WADA issues Anti-Doping Rule Violations Report for 2020

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published the Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) Report for 2020. 

The Report covers the anti-doping offences committed throughout 2020 and the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on the number of samples being collected. 

Key figures in the Report include:

• The Report highlights 935 confirmed Anti-Doping Rule Violations in 2020 (25 of which are related to Athlete Support Personnel)
• The ADRVs involve individuals from 91 nations and across 67 sports
• A total of 672 ADRVs came from Adverse Analytical Findings and 263 from non-analytical, evidence-based intelligence
• The proportion of ADRVs confirmed to samples collected remained stable as compared to 2019 despite the drop in the number of samples collected in 2020 as a result of COVID-19

WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said: “Testing is an integral tool in the protection of clean sport. Understandably, there were decreases in testing worldwide as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the percentage of samples confirmed as ADRVs remained stable compared to 2019. This annual Anti-Doping Rule Violations Report gives us a good insight into the outcomes of the testing programs conducted by Anti-Doping Organizations worldwide, particularly when read in combination with WADA’s 2020 Testing Figures report that was published in December 2021. The 2020 Anti-Doping Rule Violations report notably highlights the successes of WADA’s Intelligence & Investigations (I&I) Department and similar teams within some Anti-Doping Organizations. This was largely due to WADA’s confidential source platform ‘Speak Up!’ and those whistleblowers who had the courage to come forward with evidence of wrongdoing. Anti-doping is not all about testing. Along with WADA I&I, the continued development of a comprehensive values-based education program, the Athlete Biological Passport and advancements made in scientific research and data analysis will continue to play vital roles in the protection of clean sport.”

The report can be accessed here.