WADA Publishes Revised TDSSA

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published version 10.0 of the Technical Document for Sport-Specific Analysis (TDSSA), effective 1 January 2025. WADA’s Strategic Testing Expert Advisory Group (STEAG) revises the document every year. Implementing the TDSSA is mandatory for all anti-doping organisations that are signatories to the World Anti-Doping Code.

The latest version contains a new Appendix 4 that includes minimum levels of analysis (MLAs) for sports and disciplines of International Federations (IFs) and other sports organizations that are outside the Olympic/Paralympic Movement but who are signatories to the World Anti-Doping Code. Further, MLAs of the sport Aikido have been reduced to 0% to reflect the exhibition nature of the sport.

In addition, the application of the Growth Hormone (GH) MLAs remains optional for Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) to apply, and text has been added that supports the implementation of the Endocrine Module of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) for athletes. Finally, the amendments made to MLAs for four sports/disciplines, i.e. an increase in erythropoietin receptor agonists (ERAs) from 15% to 30% made in the previous version, will come into effect on 1 January 2025. The effective date was delayed, providing ADOs with sufficient time to plan and incorporate these changes into their 2025 Test Distribution Plans (TDPs).

Article 4.7.2 of the International Standard for Testing and Investigations (ISTI) allows ADOs to apply to WADA for flexibility in the implementation of the MLA. The Guidelines for Implementing the TDSSA that supports version 10.0 have also been updated.