Last night, The Daily Mail published a report alleging that Mo Farah missed two drugs tests in the build up to London 2012.
Farah, who won the 5,000 and 10,000 metres titles in London three years ago missed his first test early in 2010. He joined Salazar's training camp in Oregon the following year and the Daily Mail reports that the second missed test came that summer.
The Olympic champion claimed to be at home in London, but was unable to hear the doorbell when he was resting in his bedroom. UK Athletics rules at the time stated that if any athlete missed three drugs tests in an 18 month period, an athlete may face a four year ban. The rule has since been lowered from an 18 month period to 12 months.
If Farah missed another test in the build up to the 2011 World Championships he would have missed out on his home Olympics. In Daegu, Farah won the 5,000 metres gold medal and finished second in the 10,000 metres final.
Drug testing
The issue of drug testing and doping in sport is pretty prominent in the media with many journalists casting their suspicions over various high-profile athletes.
Sports will generally follow Anti-Doping Rules like these issued by the Sports Council.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was established in 1999 as an international independent agency composed and funded equally by the sport movement and governments of the world.
Here's a list of the prohibited items are on their list, however this varies depending on the sport in question, like high endurance sport would differ from low endurance.
And here's an idea of what they are and what they do...
How the tests are performed
But how exactly does drug testing in sport happen and what kind of rules do the athletes have to follow?
First off, an athlete can be tested at any time, whether in or out of competition. Some sports may test the winning team or top competitors while others will choose an athlete to test randomly.
There are two different types of testing, urine testing and blood testing.
In the first instance, the athlete is allowed to have a witness present to make sure the test has taken place correctly. A sample is provided and then split into two containers which are sent for testing. A code number is attached and a report and medical declaration completed and signed by the athlete.
The sample is then sent to a lab. If it tests positive, the athlete and their witness are allowed to witness the opening and testing of the second sample. If this again tests positive, the relevant people are made aware.
In the case of blood testing, the athlete is tested over a period of time for EPO and artificial oxygen carriers in order to build a profile of the athlete. The same procedures then apply for the testing of the sample.
Here's an idea of how that works:
What happens next
Well, after an athlete tests positive, WADA itself doesn't implement any sanctions, that is up to the governing bodies related to the sport, national or international sports agencies.
The sanctions can result in suspension from the sport, fines or in some cases, removal of medals or awards, loss of results.
In serious cases, the athlete could be barred from the sport for a period or in the most extreme cases, for life.
Information compiled from the Irish Sports Council, WADA and TeachPE.com.
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