Athlete Whereabouts Information

On 1st January 2009, the 2009 revised WADA Code (ENG / FRA)  and the new International Standard for Testing (IST) came into force.

Under the new IST, gymnasts are required to provide quarterly information on their exact whereabouts for one hour a day, seven days a week. In addition, they also need to provide details of their permanent mailing address, a daily residential address (e.g. home, hotel, etc), competition schedule and schedule of regular activities (e.g. training, work, etc).

• ‘Strikes’ can be gained from Missed Tests and Filing Failures (failure to provide sufficient information) – three strikes over an 18-month period constitutes a possible anti-doping rule violation. Such a violation brings with it a sanction of between one and two years ineligibility depending on the gymnast’s degree of fault.
• Testing can and should be conducted outside of the one hour window. However, ‘missed tests’ will not be applicable for unsuccessful attempts in such cases.
• Gymnasts can delegate the task of submitting their whereabouts information, but they remain accountable for any Filing Failures or Missed Tests that result from this information. In order to delegate the task, gymnasts have to request an Athlete Agent account on ADAMS to FIG.      
                                                 
• Gymnasts may submit last minutes modifications by SMS. For more information click here.

If gymnasts are nominated by FIG, through the FIG RTP List, or their NF, the National RTP List, for out-of-competition testing, they will be asked to provide up-to-date athlete whereabouts information to ensure they can be tested at any time and any where at no notice.

The importance of filing whereabouts is a key element for the gymnasts to fulfil their obligations of the WADA Code and the FIG Anti-Doping Rules. In order to assist the anti-doping administrative tasks, WADA has developed an on-line Anti-Doping Administration management system (ADAMS). The system can be accessed from anywhere in the world through the internet and has been constantly improved based on the experience of users in the ADAMS system. The ADAMS system is compulsory as of 1 January 2009 for WADA and all International Federations. For more information about ADAMS, consult the ADAMS page on FIG website.

If gymnasts have already been notified by FIG and have been inducted onto online ADAMS  they should ensure that they keep their athlete whereabouts information up to date at all times.

Gymnasts, included in the FIG RTP, who decide to retire from competition must inform FIG and must therefore send the Retirement Notification Form duly completed. The gymnasts' Licences will thereafter be cancelled and the gymnasts will be withdrawn from the FIG RTP.

Gymnasts, who had given notice of retirement to FIG, may come back to competition only after having completed the Return to Competition Form and after having been on the FIG RTP for at least six (6) months.

Please consult Article 5.6.2 FIG Anti-Doping Rules.

WADA Q&A on Whereabouts (Spanish/ French) 

Gymnast Whereabouts Filing - Procedure
Gymnast Whereabouts Failures - Procedure