Children as young as ten face urine tests to rule out doping if they want to join athletics clubs

Children as young as 10 are being forced to sign up for dope tests if they want to join local athletics clubs. The kids can be made to give urine samples in front of adult observers at junior events. Testing procedures put in place by the UK Anti-Doping Agency mean investigators can swoop on any one of around 5000 youths who are members of Scottish Athletics through their local sports club.

If asked to give a sample at a competition, a child is taken to a testing station where they have to urinate in a flask in front of a UK Anti-Doping official. The child can have a representatitve with them. A second official is also present.




One parent, whose 10-year-old son has joined his local athletics club, said: “It seems a bit heavy-handed. When you have children, you are constantly filling in consent forms for one thing or another. But this one really shocked me. My son is 10. He isn’t an elite athlete. It seems crazy that he could be dragged into some tent while away at a fun sports event and be told to pee in a bottle in front of two adults that he doesn’t know.

“I think it is reasonable for parents to be worried about who these people are. Even if everything is completely above board, it is still going to be a pretty intimidating and uncomfortable thing for children who are ultimately just taking part in a fun sports day.” The UK Anti-Doping Agency said any athlete entering a competition at any level within the UK is eligible for testing.