Games officials take ‘intelligence-based’ approach to testing for doping

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND— The head of the Commonwealth Games said Sunday that the event is using a “quality over quantity” approach to drug testing, targeting specific sports based largely on intelligence received from anti-doping agencies.

Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper told The Associated Press that a full range of drug testing — urine, blood and EPO detection — will be conducted during the Games, which end Aug. 3. Medal winners, usually tested for doping at multi-sports games such as the Olympics, would not necessarily be tested in Glasgow, Hooper said. He estimated about 1,500 random tests will be done. About two-thirds will be conducted during the competition, with the rest before the games began on July 23. “There is a shift away from quantity testing,” Hooper said. “It’s about smarter testing, more intelligencebased, and all the agencies like WADA (the World Anti-Doping Agency) and UKAD (the British agency) working together. It’s really a collaborative approach.” Hooper said the Games were using an “anywhere, anytime” testing regime, which has already resulted in one Welsh athlete being banned doping. European 400-metre hurdles champion Rhys Williams was ruled out Friday after becoming the second Welsh athlete suspended for a doping offence this month. Williams, co-captain of the track and field team, was banned from all competitions after being charged with an anti-doping violation at the Glasgow Grand Prix on July 11. He finished sixth in the 400 hurdles at the Diamond League meet. Details were not disclosed. The Glasgow Games have not had a positive doping offence four days into the competition.