INTERNATIONAL STANDARD FOR TESTING AND INVESTIGATIONS (ISTI)
Summary of Major Changes from the 2021 ISTI to the 2023 ISTIThe International Standard for Testing and Investigations (ISTI) establishes mandatory standards for test distribution
planning (including the collection and use of athlete whereabouts information), notification of athletes, preparing forand conducting sample collection, security/post-test administration of samples and documentation, and transport ofsamples to laboratories for analysis. In addition, it also establishes mandatory standards for the efficient and effective
gathering, assessment and use of anti-doping intelligence, and for the efficient and effective conduct of investigations
into possible anti-doping rule violations.
A summary of the major changes to the 2021 ISTI and supporting reasoning are outlined below.
A.

ISTI Definitions
Some definitions contained within other International Standards, and which are referenced in the ISTI werecorrected to align verbatim. One definition contained in the ISTI was removed following the removal of its single
reference in the ISTI.

B.

Dried Blood Spot Samples
Research and development of dried blood spots (DBS) as a new type of sample was ongoing whilst the 2021
ISTI was in development. As such, it was decided to develop a Technical Document TD2021DBS to mandate
the procedures around DBS collection with a view to incorporating such procedures into the ISTI at its nextrevision.
Following the implementation of DBS collection and analysis in the field for the first time in 2021, the proceduresfrom TD2021DBS have been transferred to the ISTI. This now references DBS as a type of sample in addition
to urine and venous blood. This transfer also included requirements around DBS sample collection equipmentin Article 6.3.4 and sample collection procedures in a new Annex J titled “Collection, Storage and Transport ofDBS Samples.”Whilst research continues to expand the list of prohibited substances and methods that can be detected using
DBS, it is important that the requirements for equipment and the collection procedures are incorporated within
the ISTI. This new Annex J is also structurally consistent with the collection, storage and transport of urine andvenous blood samples.
The collection of DBS samples is currently not mandatory, however if ADOs wish to collect such samples, thenthe equipment and procedures around collection, storage and transport of samples included in the ISTI aremandatory.

C.

Athlete Whereabouts
Greater clarity on the term ‘Whereabouts Filing’ and the associated Code Article 2.4 consequences, so it is clearthat this defined term only applies to athletes in a Registered Testing Pool and not to athletes in a Testing Pool.

D.

Sport Gender
It is clarified that during a sample collection session, the sport gender of the athlete shall be recorded on therelevant documentation.
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E.

Athletes who are Minors
Annex B was revised to reflect the importance of safeguarding athletes who are minors. As such, there is now
a requirement that a minimum of two sample collection personnel are assigned to a sample collection session
involving a Minor and that when an athlete that is a minor is in the doping control station, there shall always be
two sample collection personnel present.
Additional language was also added recommending that the athlete who is a minor have a representative
present with them throughout the sample collection session and that Sample Collection Personnel will makereasonable efforts to assist the athlete to locate one. If a representative is unable to be located, then a second
sample collection personnel will accompany the athlete until a representative is located or until the athlete arrives
at the doping control station.
It remains not mandatory that the athlete have a representative present and that a test will not be invalidated if
one cannot be located. Mandating this requirement would allow athletes and their entourage the opportunity tomanipulate the testing system and potentially prevent a minor athlete from being tested.

F.

Venous Blood Collection
With the addition of DBS as a new type of sample, the word ‘venous’ has been added to reflect the difference
between the collection of blood by venipuncture that is currently used for the athlete biological passport
program and for the detection of a number of prohibited substances and the capillary collection of DBS.

G.

Blood Stability Score – Athlete Biological Passport
Amendments have been made to the blood stability score range to ensure that venous blood samples for theathlete biological passport arrive to WADA accredited laboratories in suitable condition for analysis. Thechanges are based on revised calculations that take into account the temperature in which the venous bloodsamples are transported to the laboratory and the time it takes for the venous blood sample from collection toits reception at the laboratory.

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