Using artificial intelligence to step up the fight against doping

The 3rd Anti-Doping Summit of Central and Eastern European Countries took place in Santorini, bringing together World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) officials, representatives from 26 countries, and notable figures like former Hungarian gymnastics champion Dora Hegyi. The summit focused on how artificial intelligence (AI) could bolster anti-doping efforts, with experts discussing the potential benefits and risks associated with the technology.

Sébastien Gillot, WADA's director of the European Office, highlighted AI's capacity to process vast amounts of data, identify trends, and improve testing procedures. However, Gillot cautioned that AI could also be utilized by those attempting to cheat, emphasizing the need to harness its power effectively to stay ahead of the cheats.

Dora Hegyi, a former athlete and vice-chair of WADA's Athletes' Council, emphasized the importance of informed athletes and effective national anti-doping organizations. She also addressed the legal implications of AI, noting that athletes should be fully aware of how their AI searches could be used against them in legal proceedings.

Lawyer Penny Konitsioti, who serves as vice-chair of Greece's National Anti-Doping Organisation's Disciplinary Committee, reinforced the necessity of clearly stating the potential legal consequences of AI searches on platforms.

The summit participants agreed that while AI should be used as a supportive tool for competent authorities, it should never replace human judgement or established procedures. They also agreed that personal data protection was crucial and that transparency, information security, and human oversight were essential elements for maintaining trust in the testing system. Changes to therapeutic use exemptions and results management procedures were also discussed at the summit.