Methodology

The terms of the Agreement between WADA and PASO established the base guidelines

for the role of the IO Team at the XVI Pan American Games. The PASO MC provided for

complete access to the IO Team throughout the Games, thus ensuring a collaborative

approach to guarantee the most effective doping control program.

The IO Team attempted to observe all aspects of the doping control program at the

Games, including:



In- and out-of-competition testing;



Athlete selection process;



Athlete notification and chaperoning;

 Urine and blood sample collection procedures;



Chain of custody procedures;



Delivery of samples to the laboratory;



Laboratory activities;



All doping control documentation;



Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee meetings;



Use of ADAMS during the Games;



Results management process; and



Possible hearings conducted during the period of the mission.

The IO Team attended all PASO MC meetings. At these meetings the IO Chair was able

to listen to MC Members discuss what they observed in the field and any other antidoping

issues that arose. In addition, the IO Chair presented a verbal report on the key

issues that the IO Team observed the previous day. Daily written reports were provided

to the Chair of the PASO MC. These reports included the information that the IO Chair

verbally reported to the MC, in addition to other issues that the IO Team felt was

important to report.

It is worth mentioning that in one of their very first meetings, the PASO MC analyzed the

recommendations from the Rio 2007 Pan American Games IO Report in order to focus on

the issues that were pointed out to correct them. The IO Team believes that this

approach is very important and that other Major Games Organizers should consider

doing the same.

In most occasions the PASO MC agreed with the Team’ observations and corrected the

issues. However, the Team reported one recurring issue to the PASO MC several times

and no formal corrective action was reported or appeared to be taken. With no formal

corrective action taken during the Games, the Team can only include in the report what

was observed.

At the venues, the IO Team would only intervene or provide immediate feedback to the

doping control staff if, in the view of the IO Team Member, there was the potential to

affect the validity or integrity of the sample or otherwise negatively impact the antidoping

program. This occurred on a couple of occasions and was reported immediately

to the Chair of the PASO MC or to the PASO MC the following day.

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