German company Professional Worldwide Controls was appointed to administer the drug-testing system at Jakarta Palembang 2018 as it came too soon for the ITA which became fully operational that year.

A partnership was signed by the ITA and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) in May 2022 to assist the anti-doping programme for Hangzhou 2022 which was originally due to be held last September only to be postponed 12 months because of COVID-19 restrictions in China.

Since then, the ITA said it had established a pre-event education plan and had monitored and analysed the pre-Games testing programme.

Doping controls were implemented by the ITA "wherever needed to avoid any testing gaps" prior to Hangzhou 2022 under the testing jurisdiction of the OCA.

The ITA also revealed that it had entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the local Chinese authorities for information-sharing purposes.

More than 12,500 athletes from 45 countries are set to compete at what is set to be the biggest Asian Games in history, with competition in 40 sports due to run from tomorrow until October 8 after today’s Opening Ceremony.

"The International Testing Agency is committed to providing independent expert support to the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games clean sport activities," a statement from the ITA read.

"In cooperation with the OCA, CHINADA [China Anti-Doping Agency] and the Local Organising Committee, the ITA will execute and monitor various aspects of the anti-doping program and ensure that participating athletes can take part in fair and clean competitions."

Among the ITA's responsibilities for Hangzhou 2022 include the formulation of a test distribution plan (TDP).

The ITA said the TDP would take into account information stemming from a "comprehensive risk assessment".

CHINADA is expected to be responsible for collecting samples from both in-competition and out-of-competition testing based on the TDP, including cooperation with chaperones and doping control officers.

The ITA is set to manage general communication related to the anti-doping program where it has pledged to ensure transparency and compliance with anti-doping protocols.

This includes liaising with National Olympic Committees, International Federations, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s independent observer team and other relevant stakeholders.

Therapeutic Use Exemptions are also expected to be managed by the ITA as well as the results management process for possible anti-doping rule violations.

The ITA said it would analyse adverse analytical findings potentially resulting from the testing programme before notifying athletes, and prosecuting any breach.

The agency has called on participants to report suspected anti-doping rule violations in relation to the Asian Games in its confidential REVEAL platform.