The Anti-Doping Commission of Montenegro has started doping control of blood samples, said the director of that institution, Olivera Prodanović, stating that this is a new phase of the implementation of the International Standard for Testing and Investigations in Montenegro.
"According to the recommendations of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Montenegro has started recording biological passports and hematological parameters," said Prodanović.
As she added, through the activities of the Montenegrin team and Austrian colleagues, blood samples and a sample for a biological passport were collected from four top athletes in Podgorica, Kotor and Nikšić and sent for analysis to an accredited WADA laboratory in Vienna.
Prodanović reminded that the Anti-Doping Agency of Austria is a mentoring institution for the Montenegrin one.
According to her, the results and values of the hematological and steroid profile will be in the ADAMS database.
"Following the achievements of our athletes, it has become necessary for the Anti-Doping Commission to implement this segment of the International Standard for Testing and Investigations in Montenegro. This also fulfills part of WADA's requirements related to compliance with the Anti-Doping Code, as well as the requirements of international anti-doping conventions UNESCO and the Council of Europe", pointed out Prodanović.
She said that this highlights the essential importance of stable funding for the Anti-Doping Commission, which, she emphasized, is not the case now.
Prodanović said that the recently started cooperation with the mentoring Anti-Doping Agency of Austria and the Blood Transfusion Institute of Montenegro contributes to the successful implementation of the hematology program and indicates that the national anti-doping organization is reaching a new, higher level of development, in which the demands are increasing.
"The mentoring of the Anti-Doping Agency of Austria significantly contributes to the work of the Anti-Doping Commission in the implementation of standards, directing the improvement of work and requirements in this area, and examples of good practice indicate that there is room for development in our national framework", added Prodanović.
As she reminded, the Anti-Doping Commission in Montenegro has so far conducted doping controls through urine samples.
"With the introduction of blood doping controls, our activities become even more professional and serious, which shows that we are ready to improve practice and contribute to preserving the integrity of athletes at the highest level," Prodanović points out.
Prodanović thanked the Ministry of Health for the support it provides to anti-doping activities, stating that the two institutions share a common goal, which is to preserve the health of athletes.
Bonus video:
