NDTL Receives WADA Approval to Manage Athlete Biological Passport

On December 6, 2024, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) granted approval to the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) in New Delhi as an Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU) to manage the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP). The ABP is a critical anti-doping tool that tracks an athlete’s biological markers, such as blood and steroid profiles, over time to detect doping and ensure fair competition.

The APMU’s role is to translate complex biological results, compiled in athletes’ passports, into actionable recommendations for Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs). In July 2023, WADA updated its Athlete Biological Passport Operating Guidelines (ABP Guidelines) and launched the ADAMS Next Gen ABP Module in end-August 2023.

This approval is a significant milestone for India, placing it among the 17 globally recognized APMUs. India’s new status will support both domestic and neighboring countries’ anti-doping efforts, enhancing NDTL’s role in the global fight against doping and strengthening its credibility in the field.

NADA had introduced an Athlete Biological Passport program in 2018 covering Olympic-bound sportspersons. Three modules were implemented in the ABP program: hematological, steroidal, and endocrine modules.