
The study in question was a social science based survey conducted by WADA and a team of researchers at the Athletes’ village in Daegu. The purpose of the study was to assess the reliability of potential new methods of evaluating the prevalence of doping in sport using more of a social science approach (randomised-response survey). The survey was intended to be extended to multi-sport events and no publication was ever evoked. In fact, the survey was only ever repeated once, with a revised methodology, at the Pan-Arabic Games where mainly athletes were interviewed.
Summary
• The IAAF has never vetoed publication of this article. The IAAF is extremely surprised to see WADA quoted on Friday as saying that the IAAF has a right of veto (if the quote used by the Sunday Times is in fact accurate. The quote in the article attributed from yesterday to the IAAF was never made).
• The IAAF does however have serious reservations as to the interpretation of the results made by the research group as confirmed by high-profile experts in social science who reviewed the publication on our request. The IAAF submitted those concerns to the research group but has never heard back from them.
• The IAAF understands that the article in question was submitted for publication but it was rejected.
• The IAAF is surprised that any professional team of social science researchers should choose consistently to leak research material through the media before it is published.
• The IAAF is continuing the prevalence study started in 2011 based on reliable, analytical results derived from the Athlete Biological Passport programme. It is a priority for us and we aim at finalising an article for scientific publication, in coordination with WADA.
• The IAAF is the only sport federation to have conducted a prevalence study to date and we encourage other sports to do the same.