Tygart chaired the virtual meeting, which also led to the resolution to use Dried Blood Spot analysis as a new testing methodA significant “surge” in testing has been promised by anti-doping leaders before the Tokyo Olympics next summer amid concerns that drug cheats have taken advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic. The risk of infection has led to a significant reduction in testing across the sporting world, sparking fears among clean athletes and anti-doping agencies that the abuse of banned substances has escalated. But yesterday Travis Tygart, the chief executive of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada), led a virtual meeting of international anti-doping leaders, who agreed to increase the number of tests before the Olympic and Paralympic Games. “The reduced level of testing worldwide [as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic] is immensely frustrating for everyone, especially athletes,” a joint statement from those involved in the

Source: The Times September 03, 2020 23:03 UTC