Doping Control - Do You Qualify?

Drug testing in figure skating is governed primarily by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and the ISU. These organizations determine who will be tested at events (In-Competition Testing) and who is eligible for testing away from competition (No Advance Notice, Registered Testing Pool or "RTP").


In-competition testing takes place on the day of the competition and is an effective way of deterring the use of substances that could enhance skating performance during competition. If you compete at an event described below, you are eligible for in-competition testing:

ISU Anti-Doping Article 5.1.2 and Procedure B.1: 'Anti-Doping Tests must be carried out according to the current ISU rules and procedures at the following events: ISU championships, Olympic qualifying events, Grand Prix of Figure Skating and Final, Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating and Final, open international competitions, and all other events designated by the ISU Council.' (Eligibility criteria as of 2/12/2008) For figure skating, these events include: Olympic Winter Games, World Figure Skating Championships, World Junior Figure Skating Championships, European Figure Skating Championships, Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, Grand Prix events and Final, Junior Grand Prix events and Final, open international competitions (possibly), international senior Bs and spring competitions (possibly). USADA also tests skaters at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships (Refer to competition web site or packet for current year's detail. Being eligible does not guarantee testing but means skaters should be prepared.).

Out-of-competition (OOC) testing is directed at prohibited substances that would benefit athletes during training or have long-term affects (ex. steroids, diuretics, blood doping). USADA and the ISU each have an their own RTP and have similar but slightly different criteria for naming skaters to them:

USADA RTP: Team A and B envelope athletes; any athlete selected to compete at the World or World Junior championships; any athlete receiving benefits from the USOC (Team A and B). (Eligibility criteria as of 2/12/2008)

ISU RTP: According to ISU Article C.3, 'Skaters ranked in the top 10 of the previous season's World Figure Skating Championships and junior skaters ranked in the top five of the previous season's World Junior Figure Skating Championships of each discipline of figure skating (singles, pairs and dance) shall be included in the ISU Registered Testing Pool. Additional skaters may be added by the ISU based on testing results and performance. Any skater who progresses into the top 10 of the above lists during the season will automatically be included in the ISU Registered Testing Pool. A skater who drops out of the above lists will only be excluded at the end of the season (April 30) or following official announcement of retirement to the ISU by his/her member. Addition, any skater who is not ranked in the top 10 of his or her specific discipline and may be entered for a major event (Worlds, Olympics) may also be included in the ISU Registered Testing Pool'. (Eligibility criteria as of 2/12/2008)

Synchronized skaters ranked in the top two teams from the previous World Synchronized Skating Championships shall be included in the ISU Registered Testing Pool. Additional skaters may be added by the ISU based on anti-doping test results and performance. Any skater who moves into the top two teams during the season should be included in the ISU Registered Testing Pool. A skater who drops out of the top two teams will only be excluded at the end of the season (30 April) or following official announcement of retirement to the ISU by his/her member. Additionally, any skater who is not ranked in the top two teams of the World Championships and may be entered for a major ISU event (World Championships) may also be included in the ISU Registered Testing Pool. (Eligibility criteria as of 2/12/2008)