Explained: What is the Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU)?

India has taken a major leap in the fight against doping in sports by launching its own Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU) at the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) in New Delhi.

With this move, India becomes the 17th country in the world to set up such a specialised facility, aligning itself with international best practices under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) framework.

What is an APMU?

The APMU is a dedicated scientific unit responsible for managing Athlete Biological Passports (ABPs).

These passports are not physical documents, but a digital record of an athlete's biological markers tracked over time. Parameters like blood values, hormone levels, and steroidal profiles are monitored longitudinally to detect abnormalities that may indicate doping.

This method differs from traditional anti-doping tests, which focus on catching specific banned substances.

Instead, the ABP system looks for suspicious trends in an athlete’s data, making it harder for perpetrators to escape detection.

What does the APMU do?

The APMU acts as the scientific and analytical hub behind the ABP system. Its primary responsibility is to monitor biological markers of athletes over time and flag any abnormalities.

These could be fluctuations in blood values or hormone levels that fall outside an athlete’s established baseline—indicators that may suggest the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Once a potential irregularity is identified, the APMU alerts anti-doping officials and may recommend further testing or investigation.

It also prepares reports that are essential in any proceedings related to anti-doping rule violations. In short, the APMU provides scientific evidence that strengthens the anti-doping process and makes it harder for athletes to manipulate results or bypass the system.

How does the APMU work?

The functioning of the APMU is based on longitudinal data analysis.

When an athlete submits blood or urine samples regularly over time, the APMU collects and records the values of specific biomarkers into their biological passport. This ongoing tracking allows experts to establish a personal biological profile for each athlete.

If unusual trends—such as spikes or drops inconsistent with natural variation—are observed, the APMU generates what is known as an Atypical Passport Finding (ATPF).

This does not immediately indicate guilt, but it triggers a review by a panel of scientific experts who analyse the profile and may recommend targeted testing or further inquiry.

The unit also collaborates with international databases like ADAMS (Anti-Doping Administration & Management System), ensuring that data is securely shared and monitored across borders to support global anti-doping efforts.

Who runs the APMU, and why is this important for India?

The APMU must be based in a WADA-accredited laboratory, and in India’s case, it operates under the National Dope Testing Laboratory.

It is managed by a dedicated team of professionals, including medical doctors, biologists, data analysts, and legal experts—all working together to uphold the integrity of sport.

A Director oversees the unit and ensures that the analysis and recommendations meet global standards. This leadership role is critical for ensuring transparency, consistency, and scientific reliability.

The launch of an APMU is a milestone for India, both symbolically and functionally. It signals a serious commitment to fair play and aligns India with global best practices.

It also enables India to handle complex doping investigations in-house, without relying entirely on international labs.

Moreover, the unit will support neighbouring countries in South Asia that do not yet have such facilities, positioning India as a regional leader in anti-doping science and policy.