How Olympic Anti-Doping Works: Behind the Scenes at Rio 2016
Denise Prado details her role as a doping control officer at the mega-event and the strict rules for athletes.
With national and international certifications, Denise Prado served as an anti-doping officer at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Speaking on Natação Stemma, she broke down the collection room routine, testing protocols, and strict rules when working with world-class athletes.
Working behind the scenes at the Olympic Games demands a rigorous technical routine and absolute discretion, especially in sports integrity. With a decade of experience as a DCO (Doping Control Officer), Denise Prado brings a track record that includes working directly at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The role requires passing specialized courses and examinations as well as periodic recertification, holding credentials from the ABCD (Brazilian Doping Control Authority) and the Switzerland-based ITA (International Testing Agency).
The collection room routine and the 2016 Games
During the event in Rio de Janeiro, the work involved collecting samples—primarily urine, alongside blood tests—from athletes selected through predetermined criteria or random draws. In addition to swimming events, Denise worked across various disciplines, including track and field, judo, and the beach volleyball final. Major medalists and world champions passed through the control room, where strict professional protocol had to be maintained at all times: asking for autographs, taking photos, or breaking technical demeanor with competitors is strictly prohibited.
Availability windows and out-of-competition testing
Beyond working major competitions, anti-doping officers play a key role in the continuous monitoring of athletes. Under the testing whereabouts system, competitors must log their daily availability and location in advance—often designating early morning slots between 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. so they can be located for unannounced tests. In her routine as an officer, Denise primarily takes part in weekend missions and team sports such as soccer.
Her time with Olympic events also yielded memorable moments during test events, such as the Open Water Swimming Challenge off the coast of Rio. In a relaxed conversation on the Natação Stemma podcast—which also covered topics in swim pedagogy and coaching—Denise and host Samir Barel recalled the challenges the support boat crews faced while navigating open-water swells ahead of official competitions.