The changes affect particularly sensitive situations for athletes, such as food or pharmaceutical contamination, compounds that may form within a urine sample after collection, or results caused by interactions with medications that are permitted.

Technical Letters provide instructions from WADA to its accredited laboratories on how to analyse, interpret and report certain findings. Once approved by the Agency’s Executive Committee, they become an integral part of the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL) and supersede previous instructions on the same subject.

Contaminated meat, eggs or medications

The first of the new rules will bring procedures related to possible contamination together in a single document. It covers substances including clenbuterol, ractopamine, zeranol, zilpaterol, certain diuretics and clomifene.

The aim is to establish a common framework enabling laboratories to assess whether the presence of a substance could be related, for example, to the consumption of contaminated meat, contaminated pharmaceutical products or even poultry meat and eggs. Until now, these situations have been covered by four different Technical Letters.

WADA is also introducing an optional specific assessment for clomifene and has expressly requested feedback on its Minimum Reporting Level (MRL). This threshold could still be lowered as the Agency continues to review available data and scientific literature.

When the substance forms within the sample itself

The second change addresses a situation that can be even more difficult to explain to an athlete: certain compounds with steroid structures can form within the urine itself through microbial or chemical transformations of steroids naturally produced by the body.

WADA will consolidate six Technical Letters related to this issue and establish a common procedure for substances linked, among other categories, to Anabolic Androgenic Steroids and Aromatase Inhibitors.

The intention is for laboratories to use harmonised criteria to assess specific metabolites and signs of sample degradation before interpreting the result. More specialised procedures designed to determine the origin of a substance when doubts exist will also be standardised.

When a permitted medication can look like something else

The third section aims to address another problem in doping control: situations in which a Prohibited Substance appears to have been detected, but the signal may actually originate from a permitted medication, a related metabolite, an impurity, a degradation product or an analytical interference.

WADA will consolidate twelve Technical Letters that until now have individually addressed cases involving different substances. They all follow the same principle: to provide laboratories with additional tools before concluding that what appears in an analysis actually corresponds to the Prohibited Substance that seems to have been detected.

The new rule will also incorporate situations that were not previously covered. One concerns findings of 18-methyl-19-nortestosterone in the presence of levonorgestrel or tetrahydronorgestrel, which are non-prohibited substances. Another is particularly striking: laboratories will be required to assess possible clusters of 1,3-dimethylbutylamine (1,3-DMBA) findings that could be linked to sporting activities performed on artificial-turf fields with rubber infill.

From 25 Technical Letters to four

The reorganisation will significantly reduce the number of separate documents. Of the 25 Technical Letters currently in force, 22 will be consolidated into these three new documents.

Of the remaining three, WADA will retain TL27, which deals with urine sample tampering or attempted tampering. The other two, concerning tretoquinol and tramadol, will be withdrawn because their relevant content has already been incorporated into the Technical Document establishing Minimum Reporting Levels for doping control.

WADA periodically reviews these instructions as scientific knowledge and the techniques used to detect substances advance. The International Standard for Laboratories itself allows Technical Letters to be revised or withdrawn in order to adapt procedures to scientific and technological developments.

The consultation on the three new rules will remain open until 14 September 2026 through WADAConnect. The approval process will follow. For laboratories, the result will be fewer separate documents to work with; for athletes, the objective is more significant: to establish more consistent criteria for distinguishing a genuine positive doping test from situations in which a Prohibited Substance may have appeared for other reasons.

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The development of this strategy was consolidated thanks to the involvement of nearly 60 academics, open debates at the SSR Symposium 2024, and the support of experts who helped refine its priorities. With this, WADA reaffirms its commitment not to limit itself to sanctioning, but to understanding the causes and providing preventive solutions. This new phase seeks not only to respond to persistent challenges—such as lack of funding or difficulties in disseminating research—but also to project a more collaborative, inclusive, and sustainable future in doping prevention.

A strategy with a human face

The Strategy 2025-2029 is built around two main pillars: People and Systems. The first priority is to protect athletes by understanding their contexts and risk factors, while strengthening the networks of researchers working for clean sport. Here, WADA aims to create mentorship opportunities, expand funding, and generate collaborative spaces that allow the scientific community to grow. It is an approach that recognizes that sporting integrity does not depend solely on rules and sanctions, but on supporting and understanding those who live sport from within.

In the Systems pillar, the goal is to generate useful and applicable knowledge, optimizing investment in research projects and promoting partnerships with international organizations. This vision ensures that evidence does not remain on paper but feeds into policies, educational programs, and concrete decisions. By connecting research with practice, WADA seeks to transform the foundations of the anti-doping system so that the values of clean sport are strengthened in a lasting way.

A boost from research

Alongside the strategy, WADA announced the funding of nine projects through its 2025 Grants Program, with an investment of USD 464,765. These initiatives, led by researchers from Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Oceania, reflect a global effort to generate evidence in diverse contexts. Each proposal was evaluated through a rigorous review process, both scientific and ethical, ensuring that resources are allocated to studies of high impact and relevance.

The value of this program lies not only in the funds provided but also in the opportunity to build a shared knowledge base. WADA already has a platform where anyone can explore completed research, searchable by region, theme, or author. In doing so, the organization demonstrates that transparency and open access are essential pillars to multiply the reach of science and strengthen trust in the anti-doping movement.

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At its meeting on 27 March 2025, the WADA Executive Committee -ExCo- endorsed the recommendation of the Compliance Review Committee -CRC-, the agency’s independent body, to place Sri Lanka’s NADO on the ‘watchlist’. This decision granted the organization an additional four months to implement a corrective action plan.

Failure to adopt legal reforms leads to non-compliance

According to WADA, the inclusion on the ‘watchlist’ stemmed from a review of the national legal framework. However, by 29 July 2025, at the end of the given period, the required legal amendments had still not been adopted.

On 28 July 2025, the agency issued a formal notice of non-compliance to Sri Lanka’s NADO. “The organization did not contest the allegation, the proposed consequences, or the conditions for eventual reinstatement within the 21-day deadline,” WADA explained.

Consequences and reinstatement conditions

Under Article 9.3.1 of the International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories -ISCCS-, the non-compliance was deemed admitted and the sanctions accepted. As a result, the notice issued on 28 July constitutes a final and immediately enforceable decision.

The consequences, approved by the ExCo and recommended by the CRC, apply under Article 24 of the World Anti-Doping Code, Article 10 of the ISCCS, and Annex B of the ISCCS. In addition, a note will be sent to other Code Signatories to facilitate the implementation of measures regarding Sri Lanka’s NADO.

Other signatories currently non-compliant

At present, three other signatories are also in breach of the Code. These are the Russian Anti-Doping Agency -RUSADA-, the International Federation of Basque Pelota -FIPV-, and the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation -IFBB-.

Full information on these organizations, as well as the consequences applied in each case, is available on WADA’s official website under the section ‘Global list of non-compliant signatories and applicable consequences’.

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The anti-doping operation was primarily managed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee, with the support of the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD). The observer team — composed of experts from Argentina, France, Ireland, Tunisia, and Jordan — positively valued the commitment to clean sport and acknowledged the work of the staff and volunteers. Their mission included reviewing key procedures such as sample collection, the management of therapeutic use exemptions, and the chain of custody, thus ensuring comprehensive oversight.

Rigorous oversight and recommendations for the future

During the Games, the IO team examined all critical aspects of the anti-doping program: from the planning and distribution of tests to the notification, sample collection, and transport under strict chain of custody. They also assessed the training of personnel, the handling of therapeutic use exemption requests, and the results management process. This review helped identify both strengths and areas for improvement in the system implemented.

The team’s chair, Diego Grippo, highlighted the joint efforts of WADA, the IPC, Paris 2024, and the AFLD, emphasizing the dedication of all stakeholders involved. The report not only reflects a high level of compliance but also offers specific recommendations to further raise the standards for future Paralympic events. The corresponding report for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is expected to be published in early September, continuing this exercise in transparency and ongoing improvement in the fight against doping.

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Since January 1, 2025, a total of 4,018 anti-doping tests have been conducted, averaging two tests per participating athlete in the event. This rigorous testing system includes both in-competition and out-of-competition controls and applies specific measures to newly approved neutral athletes, who have been tested at least four times in the past 12 months.

Strict Control and Ongoing Monitoring

The data also reveal significant differences in testing frequency among the top participating countries. For instance, athletes from China and neutral competitors of Russian nationality top the list with averages of 8.80 and 8.20 tests per athlete, respectively. They are followed by the United States (4.13), Australia (4.00), and France (3.60), highlighting a proactive approach from federations and regulatory bodies to ensure a doping-free environment.

The program will continue to run throughout the 24 days of competition in Singapore, with a total of 830 samples scheduled for collection. This effort reaffirms the joint determination of World Aquatics and the ITA to shield the championships from any illicit practices and to establish a competition model based on excellence, fairness, and credibility.

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The former Minister of Sports of Poland, aged 40, will remain in office until 2028 alongside Vice President Yang Yang, who was also re-elected unanimously. Both highlighted in their speeches the importance of strengthening the anti-doping system, improving the athletes’ experience, and consolidating the advances in education and governance achieved since 2020: “I accept this final term with humility, determination, and a deep sense of responsibility,” Banka said after the vote.

A resilient leadership amid global tensions

Since assuming the presidency of WADA in 2020, Banka has had to navigate institutional crises, political tensions, and public criticism over the handling of sensitive cases involving countries like China and Russia. The most recent controversy arose following a report by The New York Times and the German broadcaster ARD, which questioned the decision to allow Chinese swimmers with traces of trimetazidine, a banned substance, to compete. Although a report by Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier cleared WADA of wrongdoing, the review was labeled biased by several sectors, deepening distrust. The case even led to threats of financial cuts from the United States, prompting the IOC, through outgoing president Thomas Bach, to step in and help ease tensions.

Beyond the controversies, Banka has been recognized for leading reforms in transparency and governance within WADA, as well as for building a structure more focused on the athletes. His uncontested re-election shows strong institutional support, despite external pressures and ongoing tension with actors such as Russia, whose anti-doping agency (RUSADA) remains suspended. Moreover, this new term will mark the beginning of a new era without Bach at the IOC, as he will be replaced by Kirsty Coventry in June 2025—a factor that could influence the balance of power in sports worldwide. Nevertheless, Banka and Yang seem determined to close out their tenure by reinforcing the anti-doping mission more strongly than ever.

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The Athletes’ Council had previously chosen not to comment publicly to avoid legitimizing the event, but decided to act given the growing visibility of the project. WADA also issued several statements questioning the arguments made by organizers about the alleged “safety” of supervised medical doping. In its words, the Enhanced Games “ignore decades of medical evidence” and could send a dangerous message, particularly to young people.

Medical and ethical concerns about the enhanced games

Experts in the biomedical field have joined the criticism. Scientists Ian Broadley and Martin Chandler warned in The Guardian that the substances to be used in the Enhanced Games — such as BPC-157 and ipamorelin — are not approved by the FDA and carry both known and unknown risks. Chandler explained that the long-term effects of steroid use include changes in reproductive function and hormonal problems that are still not fully understood. He also warned of serious cardiovascular risks associated with testosterone use, such as heart attacks, arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathies.

Despite these warnings, several athletes have chosen to join the competition. Greek swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev announced his retirement from the traditional circuit to take part in the Enhanced Games, where he already broke a world record just two weeks after beginning substance use to boost performance. The event, founded by Aron D’Souza and backed by Donald Trump Jr., offers major financial prizes and features media personalities such as James Magnussen, which has further heightened alarms at WADA. The organization has urged sports and legal authorities to act, reiterating that athletes are role models and that such initiatives threaten the integrity of sport.

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WADA’s medical team has collaborated with international experts to develop specific guidelines for doctors treating athletes with short stature conditions without growth hormone deficiency. These guidelines address the use of human growth hormone (hGH) in such cases, suggesting that treatment may be therapeutic if the athlete’s height is below 2.25 standard deviations on the growth curve. Treatment can continue until the athlete reaches the 5th percentile of adult height, according to relevant growth charts.

NEW REGULATIONS

WADA has recently published a guide and an article in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism to assist doctors treating athletes with short stature conditions without growth hormone deficiency. These guidelines are the result of collaboration between WADA’s medical team and a group of international endocrinologists. The goal is to provide clear guidance on the therapeutic use of human growth hormone (hGH) in these cases, ensuring that treatment is medical rather than performance-enhancing.

TUEs are crucial in ensuring that athletes with medical conditions can compete without violating anti-doping rules. To obtain a TUE, athletes must meet the criteria outlined in the International Standard for TUEs (ISTUE). This includes demonstrating a legitimate medical need and proving that no alternative treatments are available. TUE applications are reviewed by expert panels who assess medical evidence and WADA’s established guidelines. This process ensures impartial, medically sound decisions that uphold the integrity of competitive sports.

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This announcement comes at a critical time when the sports community is seeking more effective solutions to ensure the integrity of competitions. The report emphasizes that undergoing a test, even for the first time, significantly deters athletes from resorting to doping. It also highlights the value of the ABP as a tool in detecting and preventing the use of banned substances.

STUDY RESULTS

The study concluded that most adverse analytical results (AAR) related to ERA occur in the first sample taken from an athlete, progressively decreasing with subsequent tests. It was also shown that tests conducted in competition are more likely to detect ERA than those done out of competition. This finding challenges the conventional belief that athletes avoid doping immediately before competition.

“An athlete with no testing history perceives a lower risk of being caught,” explained Dr. Reid Aikin, co-author of the study and Associate Director of the ABP program at WADA. This approach reveals how initial tests have a significant impact on deterring doping, showing that regular testing increases the perceived risk among athletes.

ATHLETE BIOLOGICAL PASSPORT

The Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) also proved to be an effective tool, increasing detection rates of ERA in endurance athletes by up to six times compared to those not part of the program. This tool not only allows for continuous monitoring but also optimizes resource use by directing tests toward cases with the highest likelihood of detection.

“The ABP not only detects doping cases but also guides anti-doping organizations on how to better allocate their resources,” added Tristan Equey, ABP analyst at WADA. This is crucial, as ERA analysis is costly and is carried out under a carefully planned strategy that assesses risk within each sports population.

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As published by WADA, USADA avoided sanctioning athletes with positive results, contravening international rules and allowing them to continue competing. Furthermore, these exams were not published. “This USADA scheme threatened the integrity of sporting competition, which the Code seeks to protect. By operating it, USADA clearly violated the rules. Contrary to USADA’s claims, WADA did not condone this practice of allowing cheaters to compete. for years with the promise that they would try to obtain incriminating evidence against others,” they published in a statement.

Furthermore, WADA indicated that in 2021 it learned of this action from USADA and that it was immediately banned. Of course, they do note that there were cases in which athletes had positive results, but whose publication was omitted to favor new investigations in search of discovering new cases of offending athletes.

“In one case, an elite athlete, who competed in international and Olympic qualifying events in the United States, admitted to taking steroids and EPO, but was allowed to continue competing until his retirement. His case was never published, the results never were disqualified, the prize money was never returned and no suspension was ever served,” the WADA published. “The athlete was allowed to line up against his unknown competitors as if they had never cheated. In that case, when USADA finally admitted to WADA what had been happening, they warned that any publication of the consequences or disqualification of the results would put into question. risked the athlete’s safety and asked WADA to accept the non-publication. Finding itself in this impossible position, WADA had no choice but to accept (after verifying with its Intelligence and Investigations Department that the security threat was credible. “Therefore, the athlete’s doping was never made public,” added the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The note published by WADA had a harsh closure against the US agency. “It is ironic and hypocritical for USADA to cry foul when it suspects other anti-doping organizations of not following the rules to the letter while not announcing doping cases for years and allowing cheaters to continue competing, just in case they could help them catch others. possible infringers,” the statement concluded.

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