 The majority of tests will be held at out-of-competition venues |
Every British athlete is set to be tested for drugs at least once in the run-up to this year's Olympic Games. More than 1,500 tests will be carried out in UK Sport's most stringent ever anti-doping programme.
"High-risk" sports will come under greater scrutiny, and UK Sport said there would be no limit to the number of times an athlete could be tested.
"We have a duty to show that British teams are drug free," said UK Sport's director of drug-free sport John Scott.
UK Sport, which runs Britain's testing programme, is working alongside the British Olympic Association and British Paralympic Association as Team GB prepares for this summer's events in Beijing.
The majority of tests will be conducted without advance notice at either training camps or other out-of-competition venues, with additional tests held at key in-competition selection events.
"We want the British public to have confidence that the performances they are watching are from athletes who have achieved success through four years of hard work, determination and dedication, and not through cheating," said Scott.
 | More high-risk sports or disciplines can and will be tested more often UK Sport director of drug-free sport John Scott |
"Tests will be planned using our intelligence-based testing approach which focuses the allocation of tests around where they have a maximum impact in terms of detection and deterrence.
"Whilst the overall aim is to test everyone at least once, obviously more high-risk sports or disciplines can and will be tested more often.
"Essentially, there is no limit to the number of times we might test any individual athlete."
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Scott added that Olympic and Paralympic athletes would be aided by UK Sport's educational programme. The scheme includes face-to-face workshops, a dedicated website and a support phone line.
"On the global anti-doping scene we have one of the best education and information programmes," said Scott.
"Our aim is to ensure that British athletes are well-equipped to not make any silly mistakes, and we are seeking to embed a no-compromise approach to doping at the heart of the team culture.
"Athletes and support staff need to be fully aware of their responsibilities with regards to anti-doping, and the scale of our pre-Games programme will ensure there really are no excuses if they do fall foul of the rules."
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