Only 4pc of drug tests are on blood BLOOD tests, which are the most effective at catching doping cheats, make up only four per cent of the drug tests on athletes, according to outgoing World Anti-Doping Agency boss John Fahey, with the vast majority involving urine samples. Fahey believes changes to the WADA code to be introduced next month, compelling sporting bodies to do more blood testing, are among his greatest contributions to the war on dopers. "The sad reality of the research we have conducted into blood testing, which is drawn from the data we collect from all the various sports which are signatories to the WADA code, is that it would appear blood tests make up only about 4 per cent of the total number of drug tests collected by our agents," Fahey said. That's simply not good enough. It is an accepted fact blood testing is the strongest and most accurate test available. Blood tests detect a broader spectrum of substances, most notably human growth hormone and EPO. Blood also maintains its integrity for future testing better than urine. Unfortunately, the fact is they (blood tests) are also more expensive than your standard urinalysis test and with nothing in the WADA code compelling the different sporting bodies in charge to meet certain quotas of blood as against urine tests, then too often we have seen them taking the cheap and easy option. Even on the urine tests themselves we noticed an alarming number of sports had begun asking testers to check samples for only one or two of the numerous performance-enhancing drugs actually able to be identified. After the meeting in Johannesburg next month, when all of the amendments we have made to the existing code are ratified and published, that will no longer be the case. Fahey said the required testing limits would be decided after consultation between WADA and a number of important figures associated with each sport. "It goes without saying there is no real point in having a standard rule which means competitors in something like pistol shooting are blood tested at the same level and for the same substances as, say, a heavyweight weightlifter or a cyclist competing in a road race," Fahey said. The details of what is required both when dealing with individual tests and more broadly with the total testing numbers required to ensure they remain compliant with WADA's code will be something that is decided on a case-by-case basis. But the significance of these amendments should not be undersold. We need access to the best available detection procedures if we are going to keep pace. That means more and more often blood tests will need to be used in place of the old urine tests -- and as we have proven with the introduction of these sorts of measures, if sporting bodies are not willing to move with the times and do what is necessary to ensure their contests are conducted on a level playing field, then we will step in and force them to do it.