A chaperone or Doping Control Officer (DCO) will show their accreditation and will ask to see the athlete’s identification. The athlete will be informed that they have been selected for testing and are requested to report to the Doping Control Station (DCS). The DCO will also explain the athlete’s rights and responsibilities.

Athletes have the right to:

• Have a representative present (this could be a coach or a medical professional. The athlete representative should assist the athlete (for example, remind them of their rights and responsibilities) but should not interfere in the process)
• Ask for an interpreter (at the athlete’s cost)
• Ask questions about the sample collection process
• Ask for modifications
• Ask for a delay in reporting to the doping control station for a valid reason (read more here).

Athletes have the responsibility to:

• Stay within direct observation of the DCO/chaperone at all times from the point of notification until the end of the sample collection process
• Show valid identification
• Respect the sample collection procedures (failure to do so may constitute an ADRV)
• Report immediately for sample collection, unless there are valid reasons for a delay.

Once in the doping control station, sample collection begins. Athletes will be asked to provide a urine and/or blood sample.

For urine sample collection:

• Athletes will choose a sample collection kit – make sure that it is sealed, intact and that all the numbers are the same.
• A DCO who is the same gender as the athlete will witness the sample being provided. 
• Athletes will divide the urine sample into “A” and “B” bottles and seal them.
• Athletes will review and sign a Doping Control Form (DCF). A copy will be given to them, or sent to their email address.

For blood sample collection:

Sometimes, blood is collected. The process is very similar:

• Blood will be collected by a Blood Control Officer (BCO) who is trained in taking blood and has adequate qualifications. 
• Athletes need to be seated for 10 minutes (at rest) before blood can be taken.
• When an Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) blood test is collected, athletes must not have competed or trained in the two hours prior. So, an athlete may need chaperoning for an extended period of time if they have recently been active.

For athletes who are minors or who have an impairment, specific modifications can be made to the testing process.

If there are any concerns about the doping control process, athletes can write them down on the DCF. 

Once collected, the samples (urine or blood) are sent to a WADA-accredited laboratory confidentially (the laboratory has no way to know the athlete's name or nationality - all they see is the sample number).

• The A sample is opened and analysed
• If the A sample is negative, it is the end of the process
• Samples can be stored for up to 10 years and can be further analysed
• The B sample is securely stored.

If the A sample tests positive:

• The FEI will notify the athlete and state the date, time and place for the opening of the B sample if requested by the athlete 
• The athlete and/or their representative should have the opportunity to attend the B sample opening
• The athlete can also waive their right to be present during the opening of the B sample.

If the B sample tests positive:

If the B sample confirms the finding of the A sample, it is considered an alleged anti-doping rule violation (ADRV).

The fight against doping relies on several strategies, including the direct testing of athletes as well as evidence gathered in the context of non-analytical anti-doping rule violations. By combining these strategies, and seeking new ones to address emerging threats, the global fight against doping is more effective.

The typical testing approach, based on the detection of prohibited substances or their metabolites in an athlete’s sample, is an effective approach; but it has limitations when an athlete may be using substances on an intermittent and/or low-dose basis. In addition, new substances or modifications of prohibited substances (e.g. designer drugs) may be difficult to detect by conventional analytical means. In recent years, doping regimes have become much more scientifically planned and have taken advantage of the weaknesses in traditional protocols. Thus, the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) complements the traditional anti-doping testing approach to enhance the cost-efficiency of anti-doping programs.

The fundamental principle of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) is to monitor selected variables (`biomarkers of doping´) over time that indirectly reveal the effect of doping, as opposed to the traditional direct detection of doping by analytical doping controls.

The ABP is currently composed of two modules:

• The Haematological Module, introduced in December 2009, aims to identify enhancement of oxygen transport, including use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and any form of blood transfusion or manipulation.
• The Steroidal Module, introduced on January 1st, 2014, aims to identify endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids (EAAS) when administered exogenously (i.e. not created by the human body) and other anabolic agents, such as selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMS).

The Haematological Module considers a panel of biomarkers of blood doping that are measured in an athlete’s blood sample. The Steroidal Module considers a panel of biomarkers of steroid doping measured in an athlete’s urine sample.

The objective of integrating the ABP into the larger framework of a robust anti-doping program is twofold:

1) To identify and target athletes for specific analytical testing by intelligent and timely interpretation of passport data;

• For the Haematological Module, this includes Erytrhopoiesis-Stimulating Agents (ESAs) and homologous blood transfusion (HBT) tests;
• For the Steroidal Module, this includes Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS) to detect endogenous steroids administered exogenously.

2) To pursue possible anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) in accordance with Article 2.2 (Use or attempted use by an athlete of a prohibited substance or a prohibited method) of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code).