As technology improves, we continually review our anti-doping testing programme to make sure that sporting competitions in Aotearoa New Zealand are clean, safe and fair. In 2025, this means some exciting updates to our testing programme. These updates strengthen anti-doping in Aotearoa, allowing us to take advantage of new testing technology and enhancing existing protections for clean athletes and clean sport. 

We’re moving to Lockcon as our primary testing kit provider for urine and venous blood samples. Lockcon has a different look and feel than our traditional Berlinger testing kit, so be prepared to see something new when you're tested.  

The Lockcon kit is lightweight yet robust, secure and tamper-proof. Its one-click technology makes closing samples easier and more accessible. It also has advanced features for safely transporting samples from the bathroom to the doping control station. Those of you who have been tested internationally may recognise the kit, which is used internationally for anti-doping testing, including in Australia. You may also notice that not every kit is changing – our dried blood spot kit remains the best for our athletes and will remain the same. 

Lockcon’s benefits were first brought to our attention by our sample collection personnel, who used the kit during the 2023 FIFA World Cup. Their positive feedback led us to review our existing provider. After extensive research, discussion with other anti-doping organisations, and feedback from field team and Athlete Commission, it became clear that the Lockcon kit was the best choice for New Zealand athletes. 

Learn more about Lockcon  https://lockcon.ch/products/antidoping-human-testing/ 

ABP science has improved significantly, and it is now better at detecting doping than ever before. To make use of recent advances in testing technology, we’ll begin to collect ABP samples in two vials, forming an A-sample and a B-sample. Previously, we only collected one vial for ABP samples. 

For a small change, it brings a host of benefits. We’ll have access to new analysis methods introduced by the World Anti-Doping Agency, including Blood EPO. This will make doping even harder to hide. Athletes will be able to rely on B-sample analysis without a second test. Athletes can expect a consistent collection across all venous blood collection. All this gives athletes and their support teams even greater confidence that their sporting competitions are clean and fair. 

The change won’t change how often athletes are tested and collection across two vials will still count as a single test. 

To accommodate the above changes in testing, and as part of the Commission’s digital transformation, we've upgraded the system we use to manage athlete education and testing. 

There are no changes to the security or use of your data, but the look and feel of the doping control form you see during the testing process will be slightly different. 

It’s an exciting time for anti-doping in New Zealand. We continue to evolve our technologies and processes as the anti-doping landscape around us develops. These changes strengthen our testing programme, making doping harder to hide and competitions cleaner than ever before. 

If you have any questions or concerns about these changes, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at [email protected].