WADA - World Anti-Doping Agency

11/30/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/30/2021 15:22

WADA publishes revised Technical Documents and Technical Letters

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published revised versions of two Technical documents (TDs) and four Technical Letters (TLs):

  • TD2022LDOC, TL01 and TL24, which were approved by WADA's Executive Committee(ExCo) at its meeting on 24 November 2021; and
  • TD2022MRPL, TL05 and TL10, which include minor editorial corrections and clarifications that did not require approval by the ExCo.

REVISED TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS

Under the International Standard for Laboratories(ISL), WADA's TDs are issued to provide direction to WADA-accredited Laboratories, WADA-approved Laboratories for the Athlete Biological Passport, and other stakeholders, on specific technical or procedural issues. As part of WADA's mandate to enhance anti-doping activities under the World Anti-Doping Code, TDs undergo periodic revisions to reflect scientific and technological advances in the performance of anti-doping analyses and the reporting of analytical results. They are refined and revised in consultation with WADA stakeholders.

All WADA-accredited Laboratories are required to implement these revised TDs by 1 January 2022.

TD2022LDOCversion 1.0:

This TD relates to the preparation of Laboratory Documentation Packages and Laboratory Certificates of Analysis. It replaces the current TD2021LDOC v1.0. The main changes include:

  • A new Article 3.3.2 describing additional documentation requirements for non-threshold substances with a Minimum Reporting Level (MRL);
  • A clarification in Article 3.3.3 regarding documentation requirements for "B" Sample confirmations of exogenous and endogenous threshold substances; and
  • In Annex C: Erythropoietin Receptor Agonists (ERA), a new Article 2.2.3 has been added to describe documentation requirements for additional analyses related to the investigation of recombinant EPO (rEPO) findings, including the EPO testing of blood samples and the performance of DNA analyses (EPO gene sequencing).

TD2022MRPLversion 1.1:

This TD relates to the MRLs for non-threshold substances analyzed by Chromatographic-Mass Spectrometric analytical methods. It replaces the recently approved TD2022MRPL version 1.0. In this new version of the TD, some minor changes and clarifications have been incorporated, which do not affect the substance of the already published TD2022MRPL version 1.0, including among others:

  • Article 3.0: It has been clarified, as an added comment, that the same Limit of Detection (LOD) requirement is to be applied to the analysis of beta-blockers, irrespective of whether the MRL is applicable (for those sports in which beta-blockers are prohibited in-competition only) or not;
  • Table 1: The names of some categories of substances have been corrected in line with the 2022 Prohibited List;
  • Table 1: It has been clarified that the MRL applicable to the parent compounds of the masking agents dextran, mannitol and probenecid refer to the free (non-conjugated) parent compounds;
  • Table 1: It has also been clarified that the MRLs for the glucocorticoids shall be applied to the total concentrations of the parent compounds (free form + phase II glucuronide), except for those specific metabolites listed in the table; and
  • An adjustment of the positioning of footnote (d) (now reordered as (c)) under Table 1 to make clear that this clarification applies to all non-threshold substances with an MRL.

The above TDs are available and indexed on WADA's website.

REVISED TECHNICAL LETTERS

Under the ISL, WADA's TLs provide specific direction to WADA-accredited Laboratories, WADA-Approved Laboratories for the Athlete Biological Passport, and other stakeholders on particular issues regarding the analysis, interpretation and reporting of results for specific prohibited substance(s) and/or prohibited method(s) or on the application of specific laboratory procedures.

All WADA-accredited Laboratories are required to implement these revised TLs with immediate effect.

  • TL01: Meclofenoxate version 4.0

This revised version 4.0 of TL01 includes new guidance on the evaluation and reporting of analytical results for the presence of chlorophenoxyacetic acid (4-CPA), the marker of use of meclofenoxate in urine.

The updates in TL01 follow the recent finding that 4-CPA in urine may originate not only from meclofenoxate or from food containing residues of 4-CPA, but also from chlorphenesin, a non-prohibited substance that is used as a preserving agent in cosmetics and lotions, or from chlorphenesin carbamate, an approved drug for the relief of muscle pain.

  • TL05: Oxilofrine version 3.1

In this revised version 3.1 of TL05, a typo in the oxilofrinename in section 2.0: Analysis and Reporting Requirements has been corrected.

  • TL10: In situ formation of exogenous compounds version 3.1

The comment in TL10 version 3.1 mentioning that the possible in situ formation of prednisone and prednisolone would be addressed in another TL has been removed from the Introduction section. This update was necessary due to the upcoming withdrawal of the TL19 - Prednisone and Prednisolone.

  • TL24: Diuretics version 2.0

The updates in this version 2.0 of TL24 include guidance on how a finding for hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) shall be reported when it is detected in conjunction with its degradation product chloraminophenamide (ACB), which is aligned with the recently approved TD2022MRPL.

In addition, TL19- Prednisone and Prednisolonewill no longer be valid from 1 January 2022. The requirements on prednisone and prednisolone analyses are now provided in the TD2022MRPL.

Previously issued TLsare available and indexed on WADA's website.

Should you have any questions regarding the above TDs or TLs, we invite you to contact WADA's Science Department at: [email protected].