Slovak footballers to gain ‘biological passports’

The European Football Association (UEFA) is expanding its activities in the fight against doping in Slovakia through new activities. Chief of the UEFA's Medical and Anti-Doping Commission Marc Vouillamoz and Slovak Anti-Doping Agency head Zaneta Csáderová signed a contract on Tuesday for enhanced cooperation in the fight against performance drug use in the sport. The main innovation in the new agreement will introduce so-called biological passports for professional footballers. Unlike conventional doping tests that examine the immediate concentrations of illicit substances in the body, the new ID cards will track the long-term levels of such substances in blood and urine. The system will even apply to younger players who do not play competitively with UEFA, but may be considered for selection.