What are testing pools and why are whereabouts important for clean sport?
Out-of-competition testing with no-advance notice is one of the most powerful means of deterrence and detection of doping. To support this type of testing, the Lao NADO has created testing pools as part of its testing program
According to the Anti-Doping Rules of Lao National Anti-Doping Organization, (“LAO NADO”), athletes under the jurisdiction of LAO NADO shall be subject to testing anytime and anywhere.
In order to facilitate the implementation of the Testing Programme, including no advance notice out-of-competition testing, LAO NADO has to establish Testing Pools and collect whereabouts information from the athletes.
LAO NADO Testing Pools
LAO NADO has 2 Testing Pools: The Registered Testing Pool (RTP) and the Testing Pool (TP). Athletes being included in RTP or TP and their corresponding National Sports Federations (NFs) will be notified by LAO NADO
The criteria for including athletes in the RTP or TP are based on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) International Standard for Testing and Investigations (ISTI). LAO NADO will regularly update the Testing Pools list based on a variety of parameters, including athletes’ latest ranking in their sports, inclusion in their International Federation’s RTP, athletes’ sport performance and sport-specific risk assessment, etc.
LAO NADO shall have the final decision on the inclusion of athletes in the Testing Pools and shall not discuss the reasons for including a particular athlete in the RTP or TP.
How do athletes know they need to provide whereabouts?
Athletes who need to provide whereabouts in ADAMS are notified by the LAO NADO of their inclusion in a testing pool as well as what information exactly is required of them, how to use ADAMS, deadlines to submit this information and any consequences if the information required is not submitted.
Whereabouts Requirements for Athletes included in the LAO NADO Testing Pools
Should athletes have any query on ADAMS, such as how to submit whereabouts, please refer to the ADAMS Help Center or contact LAO NADO staff @
Download the app Athlete Central in order to facilitate all the processes related to the whereabouts system
• Check the WADA Q&A Whereabouts
• Check the At-a-Glance: Athlete Whereabouts
What should athletes do if they wish to retire or return to competition after retiring?
All IF/NADO-licensed athletes who decide to retire from competition must inform the IF and/or NADO. For RTP athletes, as soon as the retirement is officially confirmed to the ADO, the athlete will be withdrawn from the ADO’s RTP with immediate effect. If an athlete wishes to resume competing, they will not be able to do so until they have given the ADO written notice of their intent to resume competition (i.e. by completing and sending a Return to Competition Form) and made themselves available for testing for a period of six months. Please consult Article 2.4 of the ADO Anti-Doping Rules.
