The fight against doping at the Paris Olympics is not confined to the days of competition. It is a months-long operation involving over a thousand people testing approximately 4,000 athletes. The International Testing Agency (ITA), established in 2018 and partially funded by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is leading the charge. The ITA has been involved in previous Games, including Tokyo 2021 and Beijing 2022, and will be responsible for the anti-doping program during the Paris Olympics.
The ITA has already begun testing athletes since mid-April, working closely with national anti-doping agencies and international federations to identify potential dopers. Recognizing that doping often occurs before the Games, the ITA is focusing on pre-Games testing, monitoring nearly 40,000 athletes who could potentially qualify for the 10,000 spots. This proactive approach aims to catch offenders before they reach the Olympic stage.
Testing methods include ongoing monitoring, competition-related testing, biological passports (which track an athlete’s biological markers over time), and investigations based on whistleblower information. Certain disciplines, like weightlifting, are subject to more rigorous testing. Athletes experiencing unexpected performance increases are also scrutinized closely. Countries with a history of doping are also under intense observation.
The ITA intends to test approximately 4,000 of the 10,000 athletes competing in Paris. Anti-doping authorities believe that targeted testing is more effective than testing everyone. Chinese swimmers, who were previously accused of doping in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics, are under close scrutiny.
Over 300 doping control officers, including a significant number from France, will collect urine and blood samples. The French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) will coordinate these efforts, assisted by 800 volunteer chaperones. The Paris organizing committee is responsible for sample collection, logistics, and transport. Samples will be transported to a laboratory in Orsay, south of Paris, using Olympic-designated routes and air transport for athletes participating in surfing in Tahiti.
Athletes who are not staying in the Olympic Village, such as the US basketball team, must provide their locations to facilitate testing. The Orsay laboratory will analyze the samples, including the detection of genetic doping, which is now included in global anti-doping practices. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will observe the testing process and provide feedback to the ITA. To resolve disputes, including doping-related cases, the Court of Arbitration for Sport will establish two temporary offices in Paris.
The fight against doping is an ongoing effort, and the upcoming Paris Olympics will be no exception. With a comprehensive approach and a dedicated team, the ITA aims to ensure a level playing field and a fair competition for all athletes.
