COVID-19 Procedures
Following the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, and as athletes and sports returned to training and provincial health restrictions lifted, the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) developed supplemental doping control procedures to enable the safe resumption of urine and blood sample collection under the Canadian Anti-Doping Program (CADP). Urine collection resumed as of July 13, 2020 and blood collection as of October 26, 2020.
To reflect the current status of provincial health measures, the CCES has replaced its COVID-19 supplementary procedures with a simplified directive describing the COVID-19 health and safety measures that sample collection personnel must adhere to when completing a doping control mission.
The directive, which came into effect on October 14, 2022, includes safety enhancements for athletes and sample collection personnel to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19. The drafting process involved a complete review and risk assessment of each aspect of the doping control process, factoring in guidance from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and provincial health authorities. All personnel have been trained to incorporate the following directives:
- All CCES personnel will complete a COVID-19 self-assessment prior to performing work for the CCES.
- Athletes and their representatives will be required to complete the CCES’s COVID-19 Athlete and Participant Questionnaires prior to testing.
- Everyone involved in the process will maintain a physical distance where possible.
- All sample collection personnel in the testing session must wear protective masks. Athletes and other participants are strongly encouraged to do so, though it is not mandatory.
- Hand sanitizer will be available for the athletes and other participants, if applicable.
- As of September 2021, all personnel who are actively collecting urine and/or blood samples have provided proof of vaccination prior to sample collection. This includes doping control officers, chaperones, and blood collection officers.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the CCES at [email protected].
