The International Testing Agency (ITA) has released its figures for Paris 2024. They are massive. In total, no fewer than 6.130 samples were collected at the Games, in- and out-of-competition, for 4.770 doping controls carried out between the opening of the athletes' village and the closing ceremony. For the first time, nearly 39% of athletes were tested at least once, or 4.150 participants, up 4% from Tokyo 2020 and 10% from Rio 2016. The highest number of controls was carried out on athletes from the largest delegations: the United States, France, China and Australia. Athletics, swimming, cycling, rowing and wrestling were the sports that were subject to the highest number of doping tests. The ITA's testing programme involved athletes from 200 countries. The ITA’s anti-doping operations during the Games were preceded by an extensive pre-Olympic programme, conducted in the six months leading up to the event. This resulted in nearly 90% of participating athletes being tested at least once. To date, the ITA has identified five anti-doping rule violations based on the results of samples collected during Paris 2024. The athletes concerned have been provisionally suspended. Their cases have been forwarded to the Anti-Doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and/or their respective federations for a final decision. The ITA was present in France with a team of more than 30 anti-doping experts (pictured above).
