Experimental random spot testing for drugs in sportsmen.

Twenty-eight active international athletes agreed to be available for random spot urine collections at their homes, places of work and training. Suitable briefed collectors were arranged to conduct the spot collections and forward the specimens for analysis. An average number of 3.4 collections per athlete was made in the 9 month period of the trial. Overall there was a "failure to collect" percentage of 14 during the winter months and 54 during the summer months. The average time interval between initial contact with the athlete and collection was 11 hours 50 minutes. It is concluded that random spot collections of urine from active athletes in training is possible and practical. Improved collection rates could be achieved by additional spot collection at athletic events during the summer and by using regionally based mobile collectors responsible for several athletes.