Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What is doping?
Answer: “Doping” refers to the use of performance-enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids or stimulants, particularly those that are forbidden by the organizations IOC/WADA that regulate competitions. Another form of doping is blood doping, either by blood transfusion or use of the hormone EPO (erythropoietin). Also considered "doping" by many, is the use of substances that mask other forms of doping. In recent years, gene doping has been reported as being an emerging form of doping. Gene doping would be very difficult to detect as well as permanent and irreversible.

Question: What is the IOC?
Answer: The International Olympic Committee is an organization based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It was created on in June 1894 to reinstate the Ancient Olympic Games held in Greece between 776 BC to 396 AD. There currently are 203 memberships in the National Olympic Committees. The IOC organizes the Olympic Games held in Summer and Winter, every four years (e.g. 2008 in China). The first Summer Olympics were celebrated in Athens, Greece, in 1896; the first Winter Olympics in 1924 Chamonix (France). Until 1992, both Summer and Winter Olympics where held in the same year. In 1994, however, the IOC shifted the Winter Olympics to the even years between the summer games.

Question: What is WADA?
Answer: The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is an independent institution created through the IOC. Its goal is the fight against doping in sport. WADA receives only half of its budgetary requirements from the IOC, the other half comes from governments throughout the world. WADA works to help sporting federations apply testing procedures in the fields of education and research. It also produces the list of prohibited, doping substances.

Question: What is IAAF?
Answer: The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is the international alliance for the sport of athletics. It was founded in 1912 Sweden by representatives from 17 national athletic federations. Its focus is to take care of timekeeping methods and world records. The IAAF also organizes many major athletics competitions worldwide.

Question: What does ISO 17025 mean?
Answer: ISO 17025, "General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories" is an ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standard that it takes quality management systems a stage further by looking at the competence of the laboratory as well as the fitness for purpose of the quality management system.