Time will tell – exploring application, opportunities, and challenges of sample retention and further analysis in anti-doping

Within anti-doping testing as the central mechanism of anti-doping work, anti-doping policy allows for sample retention and further analysis (SFA) for up to ten years, aiming to increase the long-term effectiveness of anti-doping testing. SFA is perceived as a highly effective anti-doping measure by athletes, but research on actual effective SFA application in anti-doping testing is limited. In this study, we examined the application, decision drivers, opportunities, and challenges of SFA application in anti-doping testing. Through content analysis of thirteen in-depth interviews with executives and anti-doping testing experts from National and Regional Anti-Doping Organisations, the results revealed significant variability in implementing SFA practices with diverse decision drivers for sample retention and further analysis of retained samples. Furthermore, we identified key procedural, analytical, and regulatory challenges, such as budget constraints, knowledge gaps, and the mandatory initial analysis of all collected samples, contributing to the heterogeneity in SFA application. Our findings suggest that permitting delayed sample analysis after storing a collected sample without mandatory initial analysis could enhance detection reliability and the long-term deterrent effect, which are the dual objectives of anti-doping testing. However, delayed analysis emphasises the need for revised standards for results management and more comprehensive athlete protection measures to safeguard their procedural rights. Regulatory adjustments, along with further empirical investigation into SFA, to optimise its application are warranted.