World Anti-Doping Agency to move forward on blood profiling to catch cheats

WADA set to launch biological passport program

LONDON — After years of discussion and development, the World Anti-Doping Agency is ready to begin a global program to monitor athletes’ blood profiles for evidence of cheating.

Meeting in Stockholm this week to mark its 10th anniversary, WADA is expected to ratify the biological passport system that has been under consideration since 2002.

The project involves collecting and storing athletes’ blood samples and monitoring them over time for any variations that could indicate doping — without an actual positive test.

WADA has completed the protocols for a program it hopes can be adopted by federations and countries around the world. The passport system will be up for approval Wednesday by WADA’s foundation board.