Where are you?

Most adults would not think to call a parent and let them know they are going to stay late at a friends house or give an address to a boyfriend or girlfriends house in case they stayed the night. If you decided to spend a weekend camping this weekend would you email your location before you left? All of this in case someone needs to find you to take a urine sample. These are the things we ask of any high level athlete in the United States. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) is like an athlete’s over protective parent. In order to participate in any sport on the USA team you are required to be enrolled in the USADA program. This entails leaving a day-to-day, hour-to-hour form of where you will be. If you are not where you said you would be you need to email them and tell them where you are. If you forget to update USADA and they show up to the location you said you would be at there are consequences, a missed test. If you acquire 3 missed tests in a 18 month period you get a 2 year suspension.

Here is the USADA web site showing the whereabouts obligations. I like how they call it "whereabouts" like that makes it less creepy someone knows where you are so they can come collect your pee

Whereabouts Filings Obligations

The Chip

Could this be and easy answer for modern drug testing? Implant a chip and now your National Governing Body and any anti-doping agency can find you. The chip could solve all your paper work problems. And if you get lost search and rescue will be able to find you with in hours. Here is a company that is making chips for people. Most of the chips being made now are for people with Alzheimer’s disease, or military. Could Olympic athletes be next?
Digital Angel

Big Brother...

Is this a little too far? Is it easier to send in a form every few months and tell people where you are or would you prefer just letting someone use a computer to let them know you are at work in Utah at the moment. You already have to pee in front of this person so would it be strange that they chip us too? This is a pretty big step in the invasion of privacy. Athletes already feel like the process is an invasion as it is now. The only difference is you can’t get a missed test and have to worry about getting your forms in on time. Is it worth it?
Here is a site that defiantly says no.

Chip Implants

Convenience

I guess it’s up to each athlete to chose if they would mind knowing that someone could be watching all the time. If the device was removable would that make it easier to except? There is a device that goes in a pair of shoes, or a beeper that you would have to charge at night. Is the convenience vs. privacy battle over? Normal families are getting the chip for children and people in Latin America are getting chipped to help out the kidnapping issues with the drug war there.

They Want Their ID Chips Now
Kidnapped? GPS to the Rescue