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VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Science Symposium

Since 2002, USADA has hosted the Annual USADA Symposium on Anti-Doping Science, aimed at bringing together anti-doping experts from around the world, including guests from more than 30 countries, to inform and shape meaningful anti-doping research programs for the future.

The attendees consist of WADA-accredited laboratories, anti-doping organizations, International Federations of the Olympic Movement, and scientific experts in the field of interest for each particular Symposium. A limited number of attendees are invited to attend the Symposium in order to provide a forum for exchanging scientific information.

The Symposium enables our attendees to stay up-to-date with the latest research and scientific developments in anti-doping and provides a unique opportunity to meet with peers and colleagues in their field.

Every year, the Symposium focuses on a key topic relevant to anti-doping science at that time. Read below for information regarding each Symposium.

Redefining Normal:
Disruption, Challenges, and Opportunities for Anti-Doping Science in a Global Crisis

19th Annual USADA Symposium on Anti-Doping Science
Virtual Series held weekly between
September 25 and October 23, 2020

White horizontal USADA logo.
2020 Virtual Science Symposium attendees group images.

Given the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) hosted its 19th Annual Science Symposium through five virtual video sessions held weekly between September 25 and October 23, 2020. With the virtual format, USADA was able to welcome an unprecedented number of invited participants from anti-doping organizations, laboratories, and research centers around the world.

The Virtual Series addressed the wide-ranging effects of the pandemic and the resulting global crisis, from which sport is not immune, with the theme “Redefining Normal: Disruption, Challenges, and Opportunities for Anti-Doping Science in a Global Crisis.” As anti-doping testing programs and laboratories had to quickly adapt in 2020, the symposium encouraged reflection on how to learn from the crisis to improve collaboration, build on existing scientific and program excellence, and develop resilience and novel solutions in the face of new global realities.

Explore Past Symposia

2019 Science Symposium in Tokyo, Japan group shot.

Tokyo, Japan - 2019

Emerging Drugs and Technologies

Chicago, Illinois - 2018

Biomarker Discovery & Application to Doping Detection & Deterrence

Orlando, Florida - 2017

Pharmacokinetics and Detection Windows: Interpretation of Long Term Metabolism and Excretion

2016 science symposium participants

Bellevue, Washington - 2016

Recovery, Repair, and Regeneration: From Steroids to Stem Cells

2015 science symposium attendees

Lansdowne, Virginia - 2015

Designing an Effective Deterrence Program

2014 science symposium group shot

Phoenix, Arizona - 2014

Stimulation of Erythropoiesis and O2 Utilization

2013 Science Symposium Attendees photo

Indianapolis, Indiana - 2013

Inside the Individual:  Refining the Measurement of Biological Variation

2012 Science Symposium Atlanta, GA Attendee photo

Atlanta, Georgia - 2012

Deterring Athletes from Using Performance-Enhancing Drugs

2011 Science Symposium London, UK photo of attendees

London, England - 2011

Detection of Growth Factors

2010 Science Symposium Attendees Lansdown, VA

Lansdowne, Virginia - 2010

Emerging Technologies

Vancouver, BC, Canada - 2009

Detection of Enhancement of O2 Transport: Seven Years of Progress

2008 Science Symposium attendees photo

Colorado Springs, Colorado 2008

Mitochondria to Proteins: New Challenges for Anti-Doping Science

2007 Science Symposium attendees

Dallas, Texas - 2007

Oxygen Transport and Energy Production

Lausanne, Switzerland - 2006

Intra-Individual Reference Ranges

Exterior shot of hotel that held 2005 Science Symposium in Chicago, IL

Chicago, Illinois - 2005

Muscle Development & Recovery: Implications for Doping Control

Dallas, Texas - 2004

Detection of Human Growth Hormone Abuse in Sport

Los Angeles, California - 2003

Application of Gas Chromatography – Combustion – Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry to Doping Control

Exterior photo of hotel in Atlanta for 2002 Science Symposium

Atlanta, Georgia - 2002

Oxygen Transport Enhancing Agents and Methods

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ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

LARRY BOWERS, Former USADA Chief Science Officer:

Probably the one that stands out most in my mind in terms of achievements of the symposium was in 2004, we actually moved the symposium from October back to April. And the reason that we did that was that there were possibilities for growth hormone testing that had not had serious, peer scientific review. So, we talked with the IOC, we talked with WADA, and we that decided April was the last possible moment that we could decide whether or not there would be a growth hormone test employed at the Olympic Games in Athens. And so, we assembled all the experts in the world on growth hormone and growth hormone testing in Dallas, and we had a three day meeting discussing the testing, and the outcome of that was, that they were going to use one of the two growth hormone tests that had been developed at the Games in Athens. I still remember meeting in my hotel suite after the meeting or at the end of the meeting with Patrick Schamasch of the IOC and Costas from the Greek lab and several other people to talk about how to roll this out and how important this was to the movement. So, that was a big one.