This session will be the opportunity for the panellists to share their experiences, will address the need for global standardisation in sample collection procedures to ensure a consistent, high-quality experience for all athletes, regardless of where they are tested. It will focus on improving the process from the athlete’s perspective by integrating feedback to make testing less burdensome and more respectful, while maintaining integrity. The format will be a panel discussion exploring how Anti-Doping Organisations (ADOs) can work together towards harmonisation, referencing existing certifications (e.g., ITA IDCO), WADA’s support, and anticipating the 2027 International Standard for Testing and Investigations (ISTI). Some key areas, such as whereabouts filing, testing during or outside the one-hour time slot, phone call policies, will be addressed.

Whereabouts regulations are a crucial component of efficient and effective doping control. The current whereabouts system however is not without critique, including its surveillance character, its infringement of privacy, its high costs and the burden it places on athletes. So, how can the system be managed and optimized so that it has the support of the athlete community balancing (privacy) rights and (operational) regulations:

This session will address the operational challenges labs and ADOs face from a lack of integrated IT systems (e.g., labs connecting to over 10 different solutions). The discussion will explore the need for better system connectivity and harmonisation, including a potential ADAMS API, to enable secure, reliable, and integrated real-time operations. It aims to produce a tangible checklist or blueprint covering infrastructure, security, and interoperability to help organisations overcome common challenges. 

This session will examine Dried Blood Spot (DBS) testing, focusing on its scientific basis, current implementation, and ongoing evaluation. Discussions will address opportunities and limitations, including sensitivity, logistics, costs, and standardisation. The goal is to provide a balanced overview of DBS as it develops into a complementary tool alongside traditional testing methods.

This session will provide a practical "starter kit" for building an anti-doping programme from scratch, targeting new, emerging, or urban sports. It will cover key steps like risk assessment, testing strategy, education, and operational planning, especially in low-resource contexts. A key focus will be on how NADOs and federations can work together before the sport becomes a Code signatory. The session will include a short case-study workshop.

Unpacking the complex issue of contamination through real-world case studies from legal, scientific, analytical, and athlete perspectives. The aim of the session discussion is to propose practical recommendations and solutions that have direct applications to testing or other anti-doping operations, such as results management and CAS proceedings.

This session will explore practical steps ADO’s can take to comply with the upcoming ISII and move beyond minimum standards. The panel will examine how to effectively develop and promote  reporting platforms, the building of internal and external intelligence and investigations networks and current and future challenges within the intelligence and investigations space.

This session will explore strategies to achieve operational excellence in the global anti-doping workforce. Discussions will focus on recruitment, fit-for-purpose training, workforce planning, the allocation of testing personnel and quality management systems that ensure consistent, compliant operations, including urine and blood collection. Panellists will share practical insights on capacity building, risk management and the use of digital tools to streamline scheduling, supervision, auditing, and documentation. The session will also highlight actionable decisions and investments that can be implemented to improve efficiency, reliability, resilience, and long-term sustainability of anti-doping operations across diverse regions.

A session where the critical operational pressures facing laboratories and the knock-on effect for the entire Anti-Doping system is discussed.