Whereabouts

An important part of USADA’s testing program is the ability to test athletes without any advance notice in an out-of-competition setting. To maximize testing resources and minimize the burden on athletes, USADA has created a Registered Testing Pool (RTP) and a Clean Athlete Program (CAP). Athletes in the RTP and CAP are subject to different Whereabouts requirements and compliance criteria.

Athletes are subject to testing 365 days a year and do not have “off-seasons” or cutoff periods in which testing does not occur. Whereabouts information (dates, times, locations, etc.) is information submitted to USADA by an athlete that allows the athlete to be located for out-of-competition testing.

Registered Testing Pool
Athletes who have been notified that they are part of the USADA Registered Testing Pool (RTP) are responsible for directly keeping USADA informed of their Whereabouts via quarterly Whereabouts filings and ongoing updates so as to be available for out-of-competition testing.

Clean Athlete Program
Athletes who have been identified and notified that they are part of the Clean Athlete Program (CAP) will be subject to limited Whereabouts requirements as part of USADA’s strategic testing plan, which in part, is designed to make Whereabouts requirements for athletes proportional to testing.

How does an athlete know if they must submit Whereabouts information?

Athletes will be notified if they are included in the USADA RTP or the CAP and are required to submit Whereabouts information. As outlined in the World Anti-Doping Code, International Standard for Testing & Investigations, and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) National Anti-Doping Policies, elite athletes who have been identified and notified that they are part of the USADA RTP or CAP are responsible for directly keeping USADA informed of their Whereabouts. Athletes who have not been notified of their responsibility to submit Whereabouts information are not required to submit any Whereabouts information, although they can still be tested out-of-competition by USADA.

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What are the differences between the USADA Registered Testing Pool and the Clean Athlete Program?

	USADA Registered Testing Pool (RTP)	Clean Athlete Program (CAP)
Who is included?	Athletes identified by USADA for inclusion Athletes who fail to comply with expectations while in the Clean Athlete Program Athletes in their International Federation’s Registered Testing Pool Sanctioned Athletes	May include athletes who are selected for a national team or are representing Team USA at international competitions. Athletes identified by USADA for inclusion Athletes with specific competition results
What are the Whereabouts requirements?	Required to file and update Whereabouts in compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code and the International Standard for Testing & Investigations. Required information includes: Daily overnight location Training locations and times Competitions Other regularly scheduled activities, such as school and/or work locations Daily 60-minute window. Keep Whereabouts information updated as locations and schedules change.	Required to submit basic contact information twice a year. Required information includes: A primary overnight location Typical training location(s) Competition schedule Ensure Athlete Express basic summary information is accurate at all times. No “daily” updating required when their schedule changes from what was submitted to USADA No 60-minute window required
What are the Whereabouts deadlines?	Deadlines for Whereabouts submissions will be the 15th of the month ahead of each quarter. Quarter 1 – December 15 Quarter 2 – March 15 Quarter 3 – June 15 Quarter 4 – September 15	Deadlines for CAP Whereabouts submissions will be the 15th of the month ahead of the next two quarters. Q1 & Q2 – December 15 Q3 & Q4 – June 15
Education Requirements	Complete the annual Athlete’s Advantage education tutorial each year	Complete the annual Athlete’s Advantage education tutorial each year
Testing	Subject to unannounced out-of-competition testing at any time and at any location, as well as in-competition testing.	May be selected for testing based on in-competition v. out-of-competition risk, as well as training and competition schedules
Compliance	Subject to Whereabouts failures in compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code and International Standard for Testing & Investigations	Non-compliance may result in the athlete being moved to the RTP for a minimum period of nine months NOT subject to Whereabouts failures

Whereabouts Submission Information

1. When must Whereabouts information be submitted to USADA?

Both the USADA RTP and CAP have deadlines for the submission of their Whereabouts information.

USADA Registered Testing Pool

Athletes included in the RTP much complete their Whereabouts filing online and submit it by the 15th of the month ahead of each quarter.

Quarter 1 – December 15
Quarter 2 – March 15
Quarter 3 – June 15
Quarter 4 – September 15

Clean Athlete Program

Athletes included in the CAP are subject to limited Whereabouts requirements and must file/update a Whereabouts summary twice year.

Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 – December 15
Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 – June 15

2. What information should be included with a Whereabouts submission to USADA?

USADA Registered Testing Pool

Athletes included in the USADA RTP must submit two types of Whereabouts information to USADA. One type is the athlete’s quarterly Whereabouts filing, which includes: daily overnight location, training locations and times, competitions, other regularly scheduled activities, such as school and/or work locations, AND a daily 60-minute window.

The second type of Whereabouts filing that must be submitted is Whereabouts UPDATES. If an athlete’s schedule changes during the quarter from what they originally submitted, they must file an update with USADA as soon as possible. For example, if an athlete will be in a location different from what they provided on their quarterly Whereabouts filing, such as traveling for a competition, they must submit an update.

60-Minute Window

Any athlete who is in the USADA RTP must provide a specific 60-minute time slot every day between 5 a.m. – 11 p.m. that anchors the athlete to a specific location. The athlete chooses the 60-minute time slot to fit their schedule and must be available and accessible for testing at the specific location during the entire 60-minute time slot. Please note that USADA can choose to, and does, test athletes outside of the their 60-minute window.

Clean Athlete Program

Athletes included in the USADA CAP are required to submit basic contact information twice a year. Required information includes: a primary overnight location, typical training location(s), and the intended level of competition.

Athletes in the USADA CAP are not required to submit daily Whereabouts updates and they are not subject to Whereabouts Failures.

3. How does an athlete provide Whereabouts updates to USADA?

Athletes in both the USADA RTP and CAP can submit quarterly Whereabouts filings and Whereabouts updates to USADA through a number of methods:

Athletes may use the links at the top of this page.
Athlete Express Website: login to access your submission
Update USADA App available for download on the Apple App and Google Play stores
Click the topics below for USADA Updater App Video tutorials.

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Whereabouts Failures

Athletes in the USADA Registered Testing Pool are subject to Whereabouts Failures in compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code and International Standard for Testing & Investigations. Athletes in the Clean Athlete Program are not subject to Whereabouts Failures, but may be moved to the USADA RTP for a minimum period of 9 months if found non-compliant with the Whereabouts requirements.

There are two types of Whereabouts Failures: Filing Failures and Missed Tests.

1. Filing Failures

Whereabouts filings must be submitted to USADA by the deadlines outlined in the Whereabouts filing section. A filing failure will be declared if:

A Whereabouts filing has not been submitted to USADA by the specified deadline.
A Whereabouts filing is too inaccurate or incomplete to reasonably locate the athlete for testing.
A Whereabouts filing and/or update does not include all the required information. For example, not including a designated 60 minute window or omitting to declare a regular activity or location that the athlete will be during the quarter.
If an athlete is attempted at the listed location provided on the Whereabouts filing and is not available, they are subject to a Filing Failure.

2. Missed Test

Athletes in the USADA RTP will receive a missed test if they are unavailable during the specified 60-minute time slot indicated on their Whereabouts filing when attempted for testing.
Athletes are accountable for the entire 60-minute time slot, even if a Doping Control Officer does not arrive at the beginning of the time slot. Athletes may be notified at any time during the time slot window.

Whereabouts Related – Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV)

Missed Test = Whereabouts Failure
Filing Failure = Whereabouts Failure
All Whereabouts Failures will be shared and combined with the athlete’s International Federation (IF), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and USADA, and will be part of a combined Whereabouts Failure record.
Any combination of three Whereabouts Failures (filing failures and/or missed tests), declared by USADA, WADA, or an IF, within an 12-month period = Anti-Doping Rule Violation.