STEPS TO SAMPLE COLLECTION

Information for the Athlete.

You may be tested for drugs at any time, either on the day of competition, or out-of-competition. All testing shall take place at short notice or without notice.

1. Notification of the athlete
Before or after an event, or during training, an Institute for Drug-Free Sport official will:

identify himself and notify you in writing that you have been selected for a drug test,
ask you to sign the notification form and give you a copy,
ask you not to void urine before you reach the Doping Control Station.

An official, usually a chaperone, will stay with you until you report to the Doping Control Station.
Note: Failure to comply with a request to provide a sample may result in a sanction from your national sports federation equivalent to that imposed for a positive test result.

Your rights:
While remaining in full view of the SAIDS official, you are entitled to:

have a sports federation representative of your choice (and an interpreter when appropriate) with you during the sample collection process, except while passing the sample,
take any necessary medication or food you need (but no banned substances),
attend a victory ceremony,
meet media commitments,
compete in further events,
finish the training session,
warm-down,
be told about the sample collection and analysis procedures, and
be told that sanctions may be applied for refusing to comply with a request to provide a sample and which organisations will be notified in these circumstances.

2. Reporting for testing
You will be accompanied by a chaperone to the Doping Control Station waiting room. Sealed drinks may be provided to assist you to produce your urine sample. You are entitled to have your representative present as well as an interpreter. The sampling officer will oversee the sample collection procedure and explain each step to you.

3. Selection of sample collection vessel
At least two different sample collection kits are currently in use in South Africa. The kit used depends on the requirements of the national sports federation responsible for the particular event or programme. Irrespective of the sample collection kit used, the urine sample collection procedure remains the same.
When you are ready to provide a sample of urine, you will be asked to choose a sample collection vessel from a selection of sealed vessels. (Should you prefer, you may pass your urine sample directly into the glass sample bottles - see 4. below).

4. Supervision of sample collection
A sampling officer accompanies you to the toilet where you must remove sufficient clothing so that the passing of urine into the collection vessel can be directly observed. The sampling officer must be of the same gender as you. When you have provided the required volume of urine (generally 75ml) you will be required to take your sample directly to the Doping Control administration room. Only you should handle your sample, although you may request assistance with the handling.

5. Selecting security containers
In the presence of the sampling officer, you will be asked to select a pair of security containers.

6. Breaking the security seal
You will be invited to break the security seals in the presence of the sampling officer and your representative.

7. Dividing the sample
You will then be asked to divide your sample into the bottles (marked "A" and "B" or similar), putting approximately 25ml into bottle "B" and 2/3 of the sample into bottle "A", leaving a few drops in the sample collection vessel.

8. Sealing the bottles in the security containers
Once you have closed the bottles the sampling officer will check that the bottles are tightly sealed before they are returned to their respective security containers. The "A" and "B" security containers must be sealed in your presence. The sampling officer then records the security codes on the sample collection form. (The sealing process for security containers may vary depending on the brand of the drug testing kit being used, e.g. Versapak or Berlinger)

9. Passing an additional sample
If you cannot provide the total volume of urine required on the first attempt, the initial urine sample will be sealed. When the balance of the required urine volume is provided, the combined sample is then divided into bottles "A" and "B" before final resealing.Note: If you are required to provide an additional sample because your first sample was insufficient for testing, you may be asked to sign an Insufficient Sample Collection section of your Doping Control Form.
Failure to comply with a request to provide an additional sample may result in a sanction from your national sports federation equivalent to that imposed for a positive test result.

10. Checking your sample's condition
The sampling officer may check the acid content (pH) and concentration (specific gravity) of your sample before it is sent to the laboratory. These results show whether the urine falls within the correct ranges for testing ( pH 5-7, and specific gravity 1.010 or greater). If it does not, you may be asked to provide another sample.

11. Completing and certifying the paperwork
You will be asked to give details of any medication you have taken in the previous seven days. You are strongly advised to mention all medication, including inhalers, vitamins, herbal products and food supplements, that you have used.

During the sample collection procedure, the sampling officer documents information such as security seal numbers and medication taken on the sample collection form. The sampling officer asks you and your representative to check all the information on the sample collection form and, if you are satisfied, to sign the form. Should you be dissatisfied with any aspect of the sample collection procedure, space is provided on the form for you to record your comments. The sampling officer will also check and sign the form in your presence. He will then provide you with a duplicate copy of the completed sample collection form.
You have now finished the sample collection procedure, and you and your representative are free to leave the Doping Control Station.

12. Transporting the samples to the laboratory
The samples in their sealed containers are then sent to the IOC-accredited laboratory by secure chain of custody for analysis. The laboratory receives the copy of the sample collection form which details only information about the urine sample, security seal numbers and medication. Your name, address and telephone number etc. will not be sent to the laboratory - no information is provided which might allow you to be identified.

13. Laboratory analysis
The laboratory will then analyse your "A" sample for the presence of prohibited drugs or doping methods. If the "A" sample gives a negative result, this will be reported to the SAIDS who will notify your sports federation and your "B" sample will be destroyed. This report is usually available within 7 days of the sample collection. If required, results can be made available for major competitions in a shorter period of time.

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