WADA sees global testing number on rise ahead of Tokyo 2020

MONTREAL - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced Thursday that global testing figures are on the rise leading up to the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The overall number of samples collected by Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) worldwide was 14,280 in January while the number has jumped to over 24,000 in May.

"Despite restrictions that are still in place throughout parts of the world, out-of-competition testing is now at a level greater than for the same period in 2019," said WADA.

It pointed out that in April 2021, 14,560 out-of-competition tests were carried out compared to 12,713 in April 2019. In May, the number went up to 16,149, compared to 13,691 for the same month in 2019 and was the highest number of out-of-competition samples collected over the past 29 months.

In-competition testing figures for May 2021 were also the highest in the past 15 months, with 8,281 samples collected from events and competitions.

WADA Director General Olivier Niggli thanked ADOs "for their commitment, flexibility and determination" to carry out doping tests amid ongoing pandemic and encouraged them all to "make the most of this time" to ensure that all athletes bound for Tokyo are properly tested.

WADA now is working to ensure that the WADA-accredited laboratory in Tokyo will be ready for the challenge of the Games and will also have an Independent Observer (IO) team present in Tokyo to monitor the anti-doping activities at the Olympic Games.