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Athlete Biological Passport: Need and Challenges

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Abstract

The Athlete Biological Passport programme was initiated in 2009 by the World Anti-Doping Agency for making the anti-doping programme more effective and stronger. There are three modules in this ABP programme: haematological, steroidal and endocrinological. Currently, the first two modules have been implemented. The newer products such as recombinant human erythropoietin, recombinant proteins, and peptides are similar to those produced naturally. Hence, detection of these substances even with advanced techniques is difficult. Therefore, the concept of ABP came into existence which is based on longitudinal monitoring of biological markers and their variations over a period of time. The ABP does not rely upon the detection of a particular prohibited substance but it reflects the changes in biological markers collated over an athlete’s career. Hence, athletes can be monitored through constant interpretation of the passport data. There are many advantages with the implementation of this programme; however, there are various issues which may lead to false interpretation of passport data that must be taken into consideration.

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Abbreviations

ABP:

Athlete biological passport

ADAMS:

Anti-doping administration and management system

ADOs:

Anti-doping organisations

ADRV:

Anti-doping rule violations

APMU:

Athlete Passport Management Unit

GH:

Growth hormone

Hb:

Haemoglobin

NADA:

National Anti-Doping Agency

RBC:

Red blood cells

rh-EPO:

Recombinant human erythropoietin

WADA:

World Anti-Doping Agency

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, 160012, India

    Dhruv Mahendru, J. Kumaravel, Vidya M. Mahalmani &  Bikash Medhi

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  1. Dhruv Mahendru
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  2. J. Kumaravel
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  3. Vidya M. Mahalmani
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  4. Bikash Medhi
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Correspondence to Bikash Medhi.

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Mahendru, D., Kumaravel, J., Mahalmani, V.M. et al. Athlete Biological Passport: Need and Challenges. JOIO 54, 264–270 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43465-020-00040-7

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