An important part of USADA’s testing program is the ability to test athletes without any advance notice in an out-of-competition setting. Athletes are subject to testing 365 days a year and do not have “off-seasons” or cutoff periods in which testing does not occur.

Taking the time to submit whereabouts information can feel inconvenient, but the details athletes provide help USADA ensure that U.S. athletes have the best anti-doping program possible and that their right to compete on a clean and level playing field is protected. Athletes in the USADA Registered Testing Pool (RTP) submit whereabouts information quarterly and update any whereabouts changes to USADA through a number of methods. Failing to properly file whereabouts information or to be available for testing, can result in an athlete receiving what is known as a whereabouts failure.

Under the 2015 World Anti-Doping Code, any combination of three whereabouts failures, which include filing failures or missed tests within a rolling 12-month period may result in an anti-doping rule violation and lead to a loss of funding, medals, prizes and other money, as well as losing the chance to compete.

This is a change from the previous Code in which an anti-doping rule violation resulted from three failures in an 18-month period.

If you are an athlete who has NOT been notified or educated by USADA regarding your inclusion into the USADA RTP, then you do NOT need to file whereabouts information.