Foundation ups drugs checks

The fight against doping in sport goes on Keystone

The Antidoping Switzerland foundation carried out a record number of screening tests in 2012 – a total of 3,140. It fulfilled all of the tasks assigned to it by Swiss Olympic and the government, according to its annual report published on Monday.

“Once again, we managed a slight increase in the number of tests. But we don’t have the financial or human resources to handle more,” said director Matthias Kamber in a statement. More than a quarter of the tests, 878, involved blood samples, a higher proportion than in 2011.

The foundation said it was especially pleased with how it was able to improve its services for Swiss athletes participating in the London Olympic Games. In addition to modernising its methods to allow for easier on-the-road checks, it implemented an online test to help athletes with substance-related rules and procedures.

Since the Sports Promotion Act came into force in October 2012, Antidoping Switzerland has increased its cooperation with the customs authorities and Swissmedic to prevent the import of forbidden doping agents. In the last quarter of the year it issued 24 administrative orders for the collection and destruction of doping agents that had been seized by customs.

The chairwoman of Antidoping Switzerland said the change in the law had given the organisation a chance to outline a new strategy. It would use this to “strengthen credible anti-doping measures”, she said. The strategy has already been included in a new outline agreement with the government, which runs until 2016.

Despite its successes, the foundation turned in a financial loss in 2012 for the first time. It blamed this on the expiry of certain sponsoring contracts and the additional expenses occasioned by the Olympics.

The foundation is looking for sponsors willing to commit themselves over the long term to the aim of clean sport.