The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) published its annual report on doping control data for the year 2021 on Tuesday 17 January. It summarises the results of all samples analysed in WADA-accredited laboratories and registered in the ADAMS system. Firstly, it shows a very dramatic increase – +61.2% – in the total number of samples (urine and blood) analysed and registered in ADAMS in 2021. However, the agency points out that the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 had ‘a significant impact on the number of samples taken’. Another rising figure is the number of blood samples linked to the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP). This has increased by 36% between 2020 and 2021 (30,821 compared to 22,666). On the other hand, the percentage of abnormal test results (ATR) is slightly decreasing: 0.67% in 2020, 0.65% in 2021. Finally, the total number of abnormal test results for growth hormone is increasing: only one in 2020 compared to 7 in 2021.
