Analytical and logistical improvements in doping-control analysis at the 2007 Pan-American Games

We summarize the logistical approach and the results obtained from doping-control analysis during the period of the XV Pan-American Games, 13–31 July 2007. All the doping-control analysis was performed in LAB DOP–LADETEC/IQ–UFRJ, the Accredited Laboratory of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In total, there were 1274 analyses during the Pan-American Games: 234 out of competition and 1040 in competition, including 201 samples analyzed for recombinant erythropoietin and darbepoetin alfa (NESP). All the analyses followed the criteria of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).During the Pan-American Games, the doping authority was informed of six adverse analytical findings (AAFs). Two of them (modafinil and tamoxifen metabolite) were from double-blind samples included in the normal flow of samples to the laboratory, as agreed between the Pan-American Sports Organization (PASO) and WADA.PASO Medical Committee’s final recommendations were that three AAFs (NESP, testosterone or testosterone precursor and boldenone cases) should lead to sanctions of the athletes. All results were released electronically through the anti-doping administration and managing system (ADAMS), which was used live for the first time in a major games.