September 9 - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has today given notice of the imminent launch of a method of monitoring athletes' biological parameters on the basis of urine samples, rather than blood.
The so-called "steroid passport" was announced by WADA President John Fahey at the end of an address to International Olympic Committee (IOC) members here in the Argentine capital.
Fahey said WADA hoped to "have a steroid passport launched before the end of this year to complement the athlete biological passport (ABP)".
The ABP is used to monitor athletes' blood profiles over a period of time, in order to identify surprise changes that might be the result of doping.
The ability to achieve similar ends using urine samples is regarded as a significant step forward, not least because the procedure needed to extract the samples is less invasive.
WADA is currently gearing up for the World Conference on Doping in Sport to take place in Johannesburg, South Africa on November 12 until 15.
The gathering is expected to bring confirmation of a doubling - from two to four years - in the length of ban for athletes who fail drug tests for the first time.
Fahey's six-year terms as WADA President is soon to end.
The Australian is to be replaced by Sir Craig Reedie, the 72-year-old Scot who is an IOC vice-president and former chairman of the British Olympic Association (BOA).