The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has reduced the waiting period for blood samples taken following physical activity to 60 minutes. This change has been incorporated into the International Standard for Testing and Investigations (ISTI), which comes into force on 1 April 2026. The German National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has also adopted this change for the German version of the ISTI.
The change stipulates that athletes now only have to wait 60 minutes before providing a blood sample for the haematological module of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP). Previously, the waiting period was 120 minutes.
The new 60-minute rule also applies to other blood analyses (e.g. for growth hormones or erythropoietin). However, it does not apply if no physical activity has taken place prior to sampling or if blood samples are not being analysed for the ABP.
In addition, the previous supplementary form for the ABP has been replaced by a new blood collection form, and the mandatory information required from athletes has been updated.
Further information and an overview of the changes are available from WADA: https://www.wada-ama.org/en/news/wada-publishes-revised-2026-international-standard-testing-and-investigations-changes-blood