The true prevalence of doping use in elite sports is unknown, but studies provide estimates ranging from 14% to 39%. According to WADA statistics, only approximately 2% of the doping samples collected annually are reported to contain banned substances. This figure remains relatively stable, despite the gradual increase in both the number of tests conducted and the development of the analytical methods. On this basis, a significant discrepancy still exists between the estimated prevalence of doping and the number of confirmed positive doping cases. This fact underscores the need for investment in anti-doping research that can enhance the effectiveness of the anti-doping system. One of the significant developments in anti-doping in recent decades was the introduction of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP). The ABP relies on Bayesian statistics to establish personalised ranges for blood parameters and tracks an athlete in a longitudinal manner. Since doping triggers biological changes, its use can be indirectly detected by monitoring the biological parameters of the ABP over time. This approach has proven to be considerably more sensitive to detect doping use and has extended the window for detecting the use of banned substances. Additionally, this longitudinal approach has enhanced the efficiency of targeted testing using conventional methods. Given that the primary goal of doping is to enhance an athlete`s performance, it also seems reasonable to implement a systematic monitoring of an athlete`s individual competition results. This could help to identify any unusual or disproportionate performances and, if necessary, initiate anti-doping actions. The concept of profiling individual performances to make more informed decisions about doping testing was originally proposed by Schumacher and Pottigiesser. With this approach, athletes with suspicious performances could be identified, as doping not only alters their biological passport parameters, but also ultimately leads to an improvement in their performance. This dissertation is dedicated to the topic of performance profiling for anti-doping needs and beyond. In this work, the principles of performance profiling for anti-doping purposes are discussed, and research that provides insight into the potential of this approach in the future is presented. This research establishes the evidence-based foundation for further development of the performance profiling for anti-doping needs. In the publications I and II, the topic of performance profiling is explored from a theoretical perspective. Practical examples of using performance profiling for the protection of sports integrity are also provided. In the publication III, the showcase how performance profiling can be used to assess the effectiveness of the anti-doping system is presented. Additionally, it demonstrates the effectiveness of implementing the ABP as a new tool in the fight against doping. In the publication IV, the research results are presented, providing a basis for classifying athletes based on their absolute performance results. This allows for the unbiased formation of registered testing pools of athletes and creates a framework that may unify the international practices. This creates the necessary conditions for establishing a level playing field and equalises the chances of athletes for fair competition. In the publication V, a concrete example of a performance profiling approach combined with use of the ABP is provided, vividly demonstrating the potential of performance profiling for anti-doping purposes.
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