The United States Anti-Doping Agency has selected “Intra-Individual Reference Ranges” as the topic for the 5th Annual USADA Symposium on Anti-Doping Science, which will take place September 29-30 in Lausanne, Switzerland. Nearly 90 scientists, laboratory directors and sports administrators from more than 30 countries are expected to participate in the event.
“As anti-doping programs progress, it’s important that we use the test results in the most effective manner possible,” said Larry D. Bowers, Ph.D., USADA Senior Managing Director, Technical and Information Resources. “This meeting will give us the opportunity to discuss and eventually implement new techniques to evolve science to ensure maximum deterrence and detection.”
USADA Director of Science Richard Hilderbrand, Ph.D., will chair Friday afternoon’s session, which will focus on “Intra-Individual Variation of Urinary Steroids.” Presenters will include Dr. James Boyd, University of Virginia; Pierre-Edouard Sottas, Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analyses; Professor Christiane Ayotte, Director of Canada’s Doping Control Laboratory; and Professor Wilhelm Schanzer, Director of the Laboratory for Doping Analysis German Sports University Cologne. “Intra-Individual Variation of Hematological Parameters” will be the subject of Saturday’s session, which will include presentations by Dr. Bo Berglund, Swedish Olympic Committee; Dr. Bruce Davis, Trillium Diagnostics LLC; Dr. Richard Kendall, Abbott Diagnostics; Dr. Rymantas Kazlauskas, Director of the Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory; Dr. Ken Sharpe, University of Melbourne; Dr. Mario Zorzoli, Union Cycliste Internationale; and Dr. Harm Kuipers, International Skating Union.
Held annually, the USADA Symposium on Anti-Doping Science is designed to enable the medical and science communities to gather and discuss the science behind doping with the potential for developing a uniform testing scheme as well as a research agenda and timeline to make the science or legal aspects of testing more efficient. Previous USADA symposia focused on “Muscle Development & Recovery: Implications for Doping Control” (2005); “Detection of Human Growth Hormone Abuse” (2004); “Application of Gas Chromatography – Combustion – Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry to Doping Control“(2003); and “Oxygen Transport Enhancing Agents and Methods” (2002).
USADA is a non-profit, non-governmental independent agency dedicated to preserving the integrity of sport through research initiatives and educational programs. USADA is also responsible for the testing and results management process for athletes in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.
USADA allocates $2 million annually toward the study of prohibited substances, the development of tests and other research that impacts anti-doping science. For a copy of the research grant guidelines and application, click here.