The courier company TNT Express recently transported samples collected from athletes for anti-doping tests.
On May 24, a meeting featuring world-class race walkers took place in Krakow – attendees included Rita Turava from Belarus, Athanasia Tsoumeleka from Greece, Francisco Fernandez from Spain, Robert Heffernan from Ireland, and Eder Sanchez from Mexico. It was one of the most prestigious athletics events in Poland this year, included in the IAAF Race Walking Challenge classification.
The IAAF imposes strict requirements regarding the conduct of anti-doping tests at international athletics meetings. Therefore, six athletes (three women, three men) were randomly selected to provide two urine samples each for analysis. These had to be transported as quickly as possible and in an intact condition from Krakow to an authorized laboratory in Germany. It was necessary to ensure their transport at a controlled temperature.
– Already before 7 a.m. on Sunday, May 25, a TNT courier was waiting for the shipment at the hotel where the athletes were staying. Immediately after the samples were collected – in the presence of a doctor delegated by the Anti-Doping Commission – and placed in a special refrigerator, which was then sealed, the courier set off with the shipment to the laboratory in Kreischa, Saxony. TNT had to deliver it within the time very precisely specified by IAAF regulations; we completed the order punctually at the designated time: 8 a.m. on Monday – says Rafał Dziura, Marketing and Sales Director at TNT Express.
Additionally, TNT was responsible for transporting the sample collection reports signed by the doctor, which – according to IAAF regulations – had to arrive at the laboratory with them, be initialed there, and be express-shipped back to the meeting organizers. TNT Express delegated a dedicated courier to carry out the service, who accompanied the shipment at every stage of its journey. The meeting organizers were able to track the progress of the transport online.
None of the samples showed the use of prohibited substances. The winners of the meeting were: in the women’s classification – Belarusian Rita Turava, and in the men’s classification – Mexican Eder Sanchez.