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Science

Science Symposium and Excellence Award

Science plays a crucial role in the fight for clean competition, and USADA’s expert scientists are leaders in the global anti-doping community. Since 2002, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency 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.

To recognize and award the achievements of scientists who have made an impact on anti-doping approaches and best practices, USADA also launched the L.D. Bowers Award for Excellence in Anti-Doping Science in 2016.

Annual USADA Symposium on Anti-Doping Science

Over 20 Years of
Inspiration & Innovation

Since 2002, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency 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 and Paralympic 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 establish an ideal 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.

View Transcript
Anti-Doping Innovation: Why Science is the Foundation of Fair Play

MATTHEW FEDORUK, USADA Chief Science Officer: Science is really the foundation of anti-doping. As science advances, we need to incorporate technological changes that we then use in order to be more effective, more sensitive, more specific at detecting those doping substances.

DANIEL EICHNER, SMTRL Lab President: There’s been a lot of really good improvements in the last 20 years in anti-doping science and techniques. We try to set up a system where it’s much easier and convenient and cheaper to get these collections anywhere in the world.

MATTHEW FEDORUK: We are moving to more athlete-friendly ways of collecting samples.

ABBY RAYMOND, Team USA Weightlifting Athlete: DBS collections have improved my experience as an athlete because they are super easy, they are efficient, and completely painless.

MATTHEW FEDORUK: Athletes, by feeling confident, they can go on the field of play and know that the winners and being on the podium and the results that they see are the direct result of excellent anti-doping science, and all the research that goes into making sure samples are analyzed for all the substances and all the threats that are out there.

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24th Annual
USADA Symposium on Anti-Doping Science

Closing the Gap between Doping Prevalence and Detection

September 26-28, 2025 in Atlanta Georgia

Held in Seattle, Washington, the 23rd Annual USADA Symposium on Anti-Doping Science recently united more than 85 scientific and medical experts from 28 countries to discuss anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) and other anabolic agents that have taken center stage as the doping agents of choice in many sports globally.

When it comes to the substances of choice for those who decide to cheat, anabolic agents, such as steroids and selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMS), continue to top the list of positive tests every year. Anabolic agents, which come in forms ranging from injectables, to topical creams, to oral preparations, have unfortunately become increasingly common in the anti-aging and wellness industries, as well as illegally marketed in supplements. New designer AAS are also a constant threat, with preclinical and black-market products containing AAS dangerously accessible to consumers.

While detection methods have grown extremely sensitive in recent years, that sensitivity also makes it even more important that anti-doping agencies can accurately identify contamination scenarios from intentional doping.

As such, the Symposium focused on the direct and indirect detection of more sophisticated anabolic agents, along with strategies to combat unintentional exposure to anabolic agents through different routes of administration. International experts also discussed how to evolve testing and strategies to address the shifting threats posed by anabolic agents.

Past Symposiums

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Seattle, Washington – 2024

Anabolic Agent Action, (Ab)use and Detection: Old Problem; New Tricks?

2023 Science Symposium Photo

Paris, France – 2023

Revisiting Oxygen Transport Manipulation and Blood Doping Detection: Who’s Winning?

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Colorado Springs, Colorado – 2022

The Elite Athlete: Differentiating Extraordinarily Normal from Abnormally Extraordinary

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Scottsdale, Arizona – 2021

Synergizing Anti-Doping Science and Investigations to Protect Athletes and Clean Sport

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Virtual – 2020

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

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Tokyo, Japan – 2019

Emerging Drugs and Technologies

2018 Science Symposium photo

Chicago, Illinois – 2018

Biomarker Discovery & Application to Doping Detection & Deterrence

2017 Science Symposium Group Photo

Orlando, Florida – 2017

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

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Bellevue, Washington – 2016

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

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Lansdowne, Virginia – 2015

Designing an Effective Deterrence Program

Phoenix, Arizona – 2014

Stimulation of Erythropoiesis and O2 Utilization

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Indianapolis, Indiana – 2013

Inside the Individual: Refining the Measurement of Biological Variation

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Atlanta, Georgia – 2012

Deterring Athletes from Using Performance-Enhancing Drugs

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London, England – 2011

Detection of Growth Factors

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Vancouver, BC, Canada – 2009

Detection of Enhancement of O2 Transport: Seven Years of Progress

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Colorado Springs, Colorado 2008

Mitochondria to Proteins: New Challenges for Anti-Doping Science

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Dallas, Texas – 2007

Oxygen Transport and Energy Production

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Lausanne, Switzerland – 2006

Intra-Individual Reference Ranges

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Chicago, Illinois – 2005

Muscle Development & Recovery: Implications for Doping Control

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Dallas, Texas – 2004

Detection of Human Growth Hormone Abuse in Sport

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Los Angeles, California – 2003

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

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Atlanta, Georgia – 2002

Oxygen Transport Enhancing Agents and Methods

About the L.D. Bowers Award

The Annual Larry D. Bowers Award for Excellence in Anti-Doping Science is granted to an individual who has contributed to the advancement of anti-doping science over the course of their career. Qualified applicants will have contributed to anti-doping science over an extended period of time, while also demonstrating investigative independence and excellence in scientific work. The award is open to any scientist who meets the above criteria, including academic researchers and scientists who work in World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratories or other settings.

Past Award Winners

The Award Selection Committee (ASC) will be composed of two members of the USADA Science staff and up to three scientists who are not employed by USADA, as well as a member of the USADA Executive Team.

The ASC will evaluate the nominees based on overall contribution to the advancement of anti-doping science and the fight against doping over their careers, as well as the impact of their work on anti-doping scientific discovery and/or policy best practices.

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