Measurement uncertainty and doping control in sport

In a series of alleged cases of doping in sport, the assessment of (non-) compliance with an established threshold value has been under debate. From several cases witnessed, it has been concluded that the work of some of the laboratories responsible for doping control does not comply with present quality requirements, most notably those of ISO/IEC 17025. In all cases studied, the observed value is just above the threshold, and a credible statement of measurement uncertainty is lacking. National accreditation bodies should pay specific attention to the latter issue, as the uncertainty statement is part of the material evidence of a (alleged) doping offence, and, as such, an important integral part of the accreditation status of a laboratory and its scope. The fight against doping is based on proper concepts and principles, but it has been noted that in some cases practice does not always follow the requirements set by the system.

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