The AFLD carries out its anti-doping control activities in France in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and the International Standard for Controls and Investigations of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
It can organize controls during national and regional competitions but also during international competitions in coordination with the competent international federations or WADA.
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The progress of an inspection
The control process in brief
Any athlete, licensed or not, playing in France as well as any French athlete playing abroad.
See our dedicated page on the rights and responsibilities of athletes.
In competition or out of competition.
By trained, sworn and approved samplers (doctors, nurses, etc.).
- AFLD
- International sports federations
- WADA
- International organisations
- Urinary
- Blood
Anonymous and sealed at the French Anti-Doping Laboratory (LADF) or in another laboratory accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Athletes are only informed of the results of their sample analysis in the event of an abnormal result.
Recording part of the control operations by a sampler is possible using a "mobile camera". This recording is not systematic but can be triggered at any time, depending on the circumstances or the behavior of people participating in or witnessing the control. This recording aims to prevent incidents (insults, violence, obstruction, etc.) but also to note violations of anti-doping rules or criminal offenses (opposition to the control, evasion, etc.). It can therefore then be used as evidence in disciplinary or criminal proceedings.
The camera used by the sampler, provided by the AFLD, must always be worn visibly. In the event of recording, the person concerned is informed by the sampler and by the appearance of a light signal on the camera.
The camera may be used during the phase of notifying the athlete of their designation to submit to an anti-doping control. The recording may also cover any other phase of the control (completion of the control form, sealing of samples, etc.). However, the recording may never take place during the act of sampling (blood sampling or observation of urine urination).
Doping control procedure , source World Anti-Doping Agency (duration 4:49)
The doping control procedure for collecting a urine sample
- Notification to the athlete
- Reception at the doping control station
- Choosing a collection cup
- Observation of urination by a same-sex ACD
- 90 ml minimum of urine
- Choosing a sampling kit
- Sample distribution
- Urine density measurement
- Observations on the form and signature
The specifications for anti-doping control
Anti-doping controls are the responsibility of anti-doping organizations that have signed the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA) and committed to implementing it. Its implementation by signatories is constantly monitored by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Anti-doping organizations are primarily international sports federations (IFs) and national anti-doping organizations (NADOs). In France, the NADO is the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD).
When an athlete violates anti-doping rules, he or she is liable to a sanction imposed by the AFLD or by his or her international federation (suspension from sporting activity, fine, cancellation of results if the violation concerns a competition, etc.).
Anti-doping controls offered by organizations that are not signatories of the CMA do not allow for the sanctioning of athletes who test positive.
To be officially recognized, an anti-doping control must meet all of the following criteria:
Anti-doping controls do not have to be announced in advance but are carried out, during or outside of competitions, according to an annual testing schedule. Deterrence is based on the "surprise effect."
The choice of athletes tested is never left to chance, but takes into account several criteria: sporting performance, the competition and training schedule, doping risks, information collected, etc.
There is therefore never a systematic control of all participants in a competition. A "control" imposed or proposed during registration for a sports competition is not an AFLD control.
No payment is required from the athlete to conduct the doping control. This is an essential criterion for determining whether the test is "official" or not. A test that requires a fee for the athlete is not an AFLD test.
The samplers responsible for the tests are nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, and/or judicial police officers who are trained, supervised, and sworn in before the judicial court. Their findings are binding until proven otherwise. Their training is ongoing and follows the guidelines of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Samples collected during a doping control must be analyzed by a WADA-accredited laboratory. In France, there is only one: the French Anti-Doping Laboratory at the University of Paris-Saclay.
During an anti-doping test, the athlete is presented with the mission order with the name of the body that requested the test and, after the sample has been taken, receives a copy of the test report.
In the event of a violation of anti-doping rules, the athlete will be notified by the AFLD or by his international federation of the procedure initiated as well as the rights he has to defend himself.
If an athlete is sanctioned for an anti-doping rule violation, their suspension applies worldwide. All anti-doping organizations ensure compliance with the suspension for the duration imposed.
Failure to comply with this prohibition may result in the athlete being subject to further disciplinary action and criminal prosecution.