Q: When was International Doping tests and Management established?
A: We were founded back in 199192, and our first big operation was for the International Amateur Athletics Federation. The service was established in co-operation with the IAAF because at that time the athletics federation was the only one which conducted the out-of-competition tests internationally.
The weight-lifting federation had conducted a few tests, but the athletics federation was the one which launched the biggest programme.
Therefore the service was established in co-operation with athletics. I think it was 1995 when we took over FINA's out-of-competition testing.
Q: How extensive is your operation at present?
A: We have our own network in 71 countries and we have a team of 240 sampling officers, or international doping control officers as we call them, and work in co-operation with eight national agencies.
Q: Has the technology of testing changed very much over that period?
A: There has been change. I wouldn't want to say tremendous change, but there has been an improvement in the security. When I started back in 1981, when I started as a doping control officer back in Sweden, it was very unestablished. We had bottles with a metal cap, which needed a special tool to seal the bottle. Then Envopak came, followed by the Versapak, and now the newest system is the Berlinger from Switzerland. A new sealing of the bottle. The Berlinger and Versapak kits are recognised as sampling equipment for doping centres by the IOC.
Q: How strict are those requirements?
A: There are specific IOC requirements for sampling equipment. Michelle Verroken at the UK Sports Council has been working with equipment and materials for the IOC, so there are now requirements and standards that must be followed by the sampling equipment supplier.
Q: And what sort of training do officers using the equipment have?
A: Again there are IOC recruitment and training procedures for sampling officers. We follow the training outlined by the IOC. This training programme was launched in 1996 by the IOC. Unfortunately, they haven't taken the step forward yet to certify international officers, but I think the intention is to have an international certification process as well. When we started with the IAAF we established or outlined recruitment and training procedures because that is a very important part of our job - to have people we rely on who can conduct a very sensitive test.
Q: Where are the officers trained?
A: They can be trained in their own country. There is no basic classes that you need to take but we are depending on the person, depending on them in a sensitive situation. If someone has never conducted a test such a person needs much more training than somebody who has been performing doping control for other federations. For them we must go through the specific procedures which are necessary for IDTM and our clients.
Q: Do you have checks on their work?
A: Firstly we have a system of error forms or error control. Maybe that's not a good word for it, but we go through all the doping control forms that we receive and monitor them to see that everything has been sealed according to those requirements. If there is a minor mistake or if they have forgotten to fill something in, then we have a feedback system to the doping control officer. If there is some serious mistake then we of course disregard the whole test because of that mistake and take a new sample. We would usually retrain the person. We take action depending on the mistake which has happened. So far the mistakes are very rare and very minor.
Q: Are doping control officers ever intimidated?
A: Well, this is a question we are normally asked. To my knowledge I have only had one situation, when a doping control officer in Germany was attacked by a Greek coach. There was also a report that a doping control officer for the Russian Federation was hit by somebody. I don't know what that was in connection with. They are the only two serious incidents. There are times when coaches or athletes aren't happy being approached, of course.
It is a serious job but the situations of high tension are very rare.
Q: The doping control form, the space at the bottom for comments: are they for the athlete?
A: We are very close to discussing a specific case now which I cannot do. I will say that there is a space on our doping control form for comment.
Q: Usually to be filled out by the athlete?
A: Yes. It can be filled out by the athlete but there are exceptions. Let's say we have a refusal. For some federations that spot can be used to fill in for the refusal, but we in IDTM have a special refusal form.
Q: If the testing officer has spotted irregularities what does he/she do
A: That is another issue. There are other reports. We have a system of what we call mission reports for all doping controls. We have to have a feedback. How was the travel? How were the circumstances around the control? Any special happenings during the control, etc, etc? Then we provide such a report to the federation involved case by case, If there is nothing to report we don't report but it is part of our standard communication between the doping control officers and our headquarters in Stockholm.
Q: If you have a report of an irregularity, what happens?
A: It depends on the federation, case and situation. There is no general system or procedure that we follow in each and every case.
If there is a positive case of steroids with no complaints, the doping control officer is not involved. If there is a refusal the statement from the doping control officer is very important because of the tension between what the athlete is saying and what the officer if saying. The federation will be asking lots of questions.
We can discuss the case with the doping control officers to make sure everything was OK. Some federations like to have the doping control officers in the hearing. That is general in the States. It depends on the case.
Q: Would somebody from IDTM travel with the doping control officers concerned subsequently?
A: Generally there is strict control over officers. Control over doping officers, involvement in testing, etc. We sometimes have on-site visits. I went to Ukraine to see how our Ukrainian officers operate. I have been to Russia, to Cuba etc., many places to make sure everything is OK.
Q: How flexible are the doping control officers in terms of reporting no shows?
A: It is a judgment call for the officer to make if they should be reported or not. There are three different reports. If the doping officer chooses not to report the athlete maybe the officer arrived a little after a training schedule was to finish.
They might decide not to report. Or if there has been something in the procedures, a misreading of the forms etc., we don't report it, then it is up to the federation. There are different levels, but you are trying to come closer and closer to the specific case. We are leaving the general aspects again.
Q: Have you had cases of tampering before?
A: Yes, we have had several cases where there have been attempts or when tampering has been part of the process. When you say before, I can't say if there is a current case. Just that generally we have known cases of tampering in the past.