Glue Testing
The purpose of this document is to specify how the ITTA will implement the ITTF directive on Glue Testing in practice.

ITTF Directive:
The core of the ITTF directive is that rackets should be tested for volatile glues on a random basis.

Random
Only a sample of rackets will be tested to encourage all players to behave in a responsible way.
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Chosen by Referee
The directive says that the bats for testing will be chosen by the Event Referee.

Fail once
The player will be asked to submit his bat for testing prior to knocking up. If the bat fails he or she must submit a second bat for testing.

Second bat
If the second bat fails the player is deemed to have lost the match.

Fail twice lose match
The losing of the match is automatic it is not subject to appeal to the referee.

Appeal, test on second machine
The only appeal is to have the bat tested on a second machine.
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ITTA Testing Procedure:

Introduction:

• Testing must be seen to be random and for a random test all players involved in the match should be tested.
• Players and coaches will be advised how many random tests will be conducted.
• Extra testing will be applied to those who fail tests.
• The selection for testing will be made by umpires, who are not aware of, or involved in the draw.
• Finally, all finalists will be tested automatically.

Random
The choice of players for testing will be random. A player chosen for testing will be required to submit his/her bat for testing prior to knocking up before the match chosen.
The Association does not wish to have a situation in which a player or coach will feel that they have been unfairly chosen.
All players involved in the match should have their bats tested. Any player may be the next one to be chosen.
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Fixed number of random tests e.g. 5 per day
Conducting 5 random tests per day will involve testing between 10 and 20 players, depending on whether the matches selected were singles or doubles. This together with the testing of the finalists will involve enough players to act as a suitable deterrent (see below).
The number of tests done will be varied to suit the circumstances.

Next players starting on table X after time Y
There are many ways of selecting players at random; the one to be used is to pick a particular table and a particular time and to test the players in the next match to start on that table.

Players failing tests
The ITTF regulation specifies that any player who has two bats and who fails the tests in succession will lose the match by default.
The purpose of this regulation is to protect the health of all players so that players presenting bats that fail the test will automatically be subject to further testing until they have demonstrated a change of attitude.
Any player failing a single test (meaning the testing of one bat) will be subject to a further test on the same day in a subsequent match, selected by the umpires.
A player failing two tests (whether or not both tests applied to the same match) in one day will be liable for testing in any or all of his/her subsequent matches on that day.
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Selected for testing next event entered
A player who has failed two or more tests during an event will automatically be selected for testing in the next ITTA event that they enter.

Two umpires chosen per event
The process by which the testing will be done is as follows: - Two of the umpires attending each event will be selected to administer testing on that day.

These two umpires would decide tables and times at start of day before seeing the draw. The key to ensuring the random nature of this process is that this choice will be made by Umpres after the draw has been made:

e.g. 5 Random tests
Table 3 at 10:00
Table 6 at 11:00
Table 9 at 12:00
Table 7 at 13:00
Table 4 at 14:00

A sheet will be written out by the Umpires with the tables and the times and when the tests have been completed the players’ names and the results will be added.
Any other tests carried out on that day will be added to the sheet so that an accurate record is kept.
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Automatic Testing
It to be important that there be no suspicion that a player had won an event playing with an improper bat and therefore players who reach a final will automatically be tested.

Finalists in each competition
Before the final of each event all the players’ bats will be tested. To be practical, it is likely that the same player may participate in several finals. In this case it would be possible to waive the test provided the bat had not been removed from the playing area (i.e. from out of supervision of the umpire).
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Review
The testing sheets will be kept on file and a report submitted to ITTA on a regular basis e.g. monthly.
All failed tests will be notified to I.T.T.A. Secretary immediately after an event. This will enable the Board to adjust testing to suit changing circumstances.

Kenneth Strong, ITTA Secretary, July 2008