Any athlete can be tested at any time. We understand that going through the sample collection process (also known as 'doping control') can be unnerving, especially if it's your first time. This page explains the process to help you prepare and feel more comfortable when it's your turn.
In-competition testing takes place either immediately after you’ve finished competing or at any time during an event, tournament, regatta or games.
Out-of-competition testing can take place at any time of the year and at any location, including your home, training venue, hotel or when you’re overseas.
Sample collection for testing will be carried out by a trained and accredited Commission official. If you're selected for testing, your most immediate responsibility is to provide a sample and comply with the process. If you fail to do so, it may result in an anti-doping rule violation.
Any athlete can be tested at any time. We understand that going through the sample collection process (also known as 'doping control') can be unnerving, especially if it's your first time. This page explains the process to help you prepare and feel more comfortable when it's your turn.
In-competition testing takes place either immediately after you’ve finished competing or at any time during an event, tournament, regatta or games.
Out-of-competition testing can take place at any time of the year and at any location, including your home, training venue, hotel or when you’re overseas.
Sample collection for testing will be carried out by a trained and accredited Commission official. If you're selected for testing, your most immediate responsibility is to provide a sample and comply with the process. If you fail to do so, it may result in an anti-doping rule violation.
If you are selected for testing, we will do our best to make the process as painless for you as we can, while following a set process and rules that we, and you, must adhere to.
You will be notified by an official working for or on behalf of us, an International Federation, or another national anti-doping organisation. You should ask to see their identification and authorisation.
An official will let you know your rights and responsibilities. Find them in English and Te Reo Māori at Athlete rights.
Once you have been notified that you will be tested, you have a responsibility to:
remain in sight of the sample collection personnel (SCP) at all times;
report to the doping control station as soon as possible;
produce valid identification at the doping control station;
comply with the sample collection process.
You will be accompanied to the doping control station where the DCO will explain the sample collection process to you. You can ask questions at any time.
Providing a urine sample
You choose a collection vessel in which to provide your urine sample
You provide a urine sample in the direct view of your chaperone, who is the same gender as the competition you're entered into (in-comp) or the gender held by your NSO (out-of-comp)
You choose a sample kit in which to seal your urine sample
You pour your urine sample into two sample collection bottles (A and B)
You seal the samples and place them in the transport box
You let the DCO know whether you have taken any medications or supplements recently
Providing a blood sample
You choose a kit for sample collection
You sit down and rest for ten minutes (you may need to rest for longer if you have just exercised)
A blood collection officer (BCO) draws blood from your arm
You seal the vials containing your sample
You let the DCO know whether you have taken any medications or supplements recently
Signing off the sample
Once your samples are sealed in tamper-evident containers, the DCO will go through the paperwork with you to ensure all the details are correct. You can also make comments about the doping control process, including any concerns that you may have. The DCO will ask you then to sign the relevant forms to complete the process.
Giving feedback by QR code
After every test, your DCO will hand you a small card with a QR code on it. These cards allow you to give feedback about your testing experience after you've moved away from the doping control station. Scan the QR code with your phone, and you'll land on our anonymous feedback form. If your experience has been positive - great! If you've had some issues, here's your chance to let us know so we can do something about it. You can even leave your name and number if you'd like a response.
Giving feedback takes about 1 minute and helps improve the testing experience for all athletes tested in New Zealand.
Athlete stories
Want to know more about other athletes' testing experiences? Listen to athletes share memorable testing moments via the button.
Your sample will be transported to a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited or approved laboratory for analysis. Our samples are typically sent to the Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory in Sydney. The laboratory will then notify us of the results of the analysis. In anti-doping, a negative result is a good outcome.
If your sample tests negative, you will not hear from us. No news is good news!
If your sample tests positive, we will first check whether you have an approved Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) in place to explain the positive test. You will be notified that you have returned a positive test and asked for an explanation. You will have the opportunity to request that your “B” sample is analysed.
If there is no approved TUE in place, and the “B” sample confirms the “A” sample (if tested), we will bring an allegation of an anti-doping rule violation against you before the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand (or the Anti-Doping Tribunal within your sport).
Consequences
The consequences of breaking the rules can be wide-ranging, even if your positive test was unintentional. Your reputation could be damaged and a ban from sport could potentially end your career.
The sanctions for an ADRV can include:
Being banned from all sport (competing, training and coaching)
Disqualification of competition results
Publication of your anti-doping rule violation
Financial penalties
The starting point for a first violation is four years, which can be reduced, for example, if the violation is proved to be unintentional.
If you are selected for testing, we will do our best to make the process as painless for you as we can, while following a set process and rules that we, and you, must adhere to.
You will be notified by an official working for or on behalf of us, an International Federation, or another national anti-doping organisation. You should ask to see their identification and authorisation.
An official will let you know your rights and responsibilities. Find them in English and Te Reo Māori at Athlete rights.
Once you have been notified that you will be tested, you have a responsibility to:
remain in sight of the sample collection personnel (SCP) at all times;
report to the doping control station as soon as possible;
produce valid identification at the doping control station;
comply with the sample collection process.
You will be accompanied to the doping control station where the DCO will explain the sample collection process to you. You can ask questions at any time.
Providing a urine sample
You choose a collection vessel in which to provide your urine sample
You provide a urine sample in the direct view of your chaperone, who is the same gender as the competition you're entered into (in-comp) or the gender held by your NSO (out-of-comp)
You choose a sample kit in which to seal your urine sample
You pour your urine sample into two sample collection bottles (A and B)
You seal the samples and place them in the transport box
You let the DCO know whether you have taken any medications or supplements recently
Providing a blood sample
You choose a kit for sample collection
You sit down and rest for ten minutes (you may need to rest for longer if you have just exercised)
A blood collection officer (BCO) draws blood from your arm
You seal the vials containing your sample
You let the DCO know whether you have taken any medications or supplements recently
Signing off the sample
Once your samples are sealed in tamper-evident containers, the DCO will go through the paperwork with you to ensure all the details are correct. You can also make comments about the doping control process, including any concerns that you may have. The DCO will ask you then to sign the relevant forms to complete the process.
Giving feedback by QR code
After every test, your DCO will hand you a small card with a QR code on it. These cards allow you to give feedback about your testing experience after you've moved away from the doping control station. Scan the QR code with your phone, and you'll land on our anonymous feedback form. If your experience has been positive - great! If you've had some issues, here's your chance to let us know so we can do something about it. You can even leave your name and number if you'd like a response.
Giving feedback takes about 1 minute and helps improve the testing experience for all athletes tested in New Zealand.
Athlete stories
Want to know more about other athletes' testing experiences? Listen to athletes share memorable testing moments via the button.
Your sample will be transported to a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited or approved laboratory for analysis. Our samples are typically sent to the Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory in Sydney. The laboratory will then notify us of the results of the analysis. In anti-doping, a negative result is a good outcome.
If your sample tests negative, you will not hear from us. No news is good news!
If your sample tests positive, we will first check whether you have an approved Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) in place to explain the positive test. You will be notified that you have returned a positive test and asked for an explanation. You will have the opportunity to request that your “B” sample is analysed.
If there is no approved TUE in place, and the “B” sample confirms the “A” sample (if tested), we will bring an allegation of an anti-doping rule violation against you before the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand (or the Anti-Doping Tribunal within your sport).
Consequences
The consequences of breaking the rules can be wide-ranging, even if your positive test was unintentional. Your reputation could be damaged and a ban from sport could potentially end your career.
The sanctions for an ADRV can include:
Being banned from all sport (competing, training and coaching)
Disqualification of competition results
Publication of your anti-doping rule violation
Financial penalties
The starting point for a first violation is four years, which can be reduced, for example, if the violation is proved to be unintentional.
