The nation said it will start managing all of its anti-doping operations through the system, a platform widely considered the most efficient and streamlined anti-doping operations system available to the anti-doping community, to protect the rights of its clean athletes.

"I am pleased that the Italian Data Protection Authority has provided the authorisation for CONI to begin using ADAMS," CONI President Giovanni Malagò said.

"They have recognised the strong public interest element from allowing CONI to further advance its efforts in the fight against doping in sport, and for that I am thankful.

"Importantly, it has been recognised that ADAMS offers a secure system for anti-doping organisations to conduct their anti-doping activities.

"ADAMS will provide CONI with a powerful tool to improve the efficiency of all our anti-doping operations in the future."

ADAMS, which currently holds more than 264,000 athlete profiles securely in the system, has a number of features, including a function to manage athlete whereabouts data, which nearly 50,000 athletes already use through a free whereabouts app.

It also has functions for managing Therapeutic Use Exemptions, planning tests, and reporting of test results.

Carolina Kostner will go before Italian Olympic Committee officials on Friday in connection with the doping of her former boyfriend Alex Schwazer ©Getty Images


"WADA welcomes the news that CONI will begin using ADAMS; this is a decision that will enhance the country's anti-doping operations significantly," WADA director general David Howman.

"WADA's ADAMS team has begun putting in place the necessary protocols with CONI and will provide CONI staff with ADAMS training in the coming months.

"Italy will now be able to reap the benefits of ADAMS, and their decision to use the platform will help strengthen the administration and coordination of practices that help foster clean sport.

"I hope Italy's decision will also encourage other countries to start using ADAMS for their operations."

CONI's decision to adopt the system comes as a number of the nation's athletes face doping allegations.

Among them is 2010 European 4x100 metres relay silver medallist Roberto Donati, who is due to face a hearing tomorrow, Olympic swimmer Mattia Aversa and tennis player Lorenzo Papasidero.

Meanwhile, former figure skating world champion and Olympic medallist Carolina Kostner has been called in for another hearing with the CONI's anti-doping prosecutor on Friday (September 26) after failing to attend one last week to investigate whether she was complicit in doping by her former boyfriend, Olympic race walking champion Alex Schwazer, who failed a drugs test days before he was due to compete at London 2012.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
September 2014: Kostner summoned by investigators over claims she was complicit in Olympic champion's doping
February 2014: German biathlete and Italian bobsledder confirmed as first positive doping cases of Sochi 2014
June 2013: IAAF "categorically refutes" Schwazer doping cover-up
August 2012: Failed drugs test Italian Olympic champion walker leaves London 2012 and athletics for good