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In June 2024 the United Kingdom Anti-Doping reported an anti-doping rule violation against the weightlifter Eliot King after his sample tested positive for multiple prohibited substances: 19-norandrosterone, 19-noretiocholanolone (Nandrolone), Drostanolone, Metandienone and Oxandrolone.

Following notification the Athlete gave a prompt admission, waived his right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by UKAD. The Athlete acknowledged that he intentionally had used these substances.

UKAD deems that there are aggravating circumstances present in this case that justifies the imposition of a more severe sanction. Further UKAD determines that the Athlete shall receive a 1 year reduction for his timely admission of the anti-doping rule violation.

Therefore UKAD decides on 5 September 2024 to impose a 5 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 12 June 2024.

In June 2024 the United Kingdom Anti-Doping reported an anti-doping rule violation against the rugby player Caine Rees-Jones after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Testosterone and its metabolites with a T/E ratio above the WADA threshold.

Following notification the Athlete gave a prompt admission, waived his right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by UKAD. The Athlete acknowledged that he had used the substance for aesthetic purposes.

UKAD deems that the Athlete's violation was intentional and determines that he shall receive a 1 year reduction for his timely admission of the anti-doping rule violation.

Therefore UKAD decides on 8 August 2024 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 18 June 2024.

In July 2024 the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the football player after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance RAD-140.

Following notification the Athlete gave a prompt admission, waived his right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by CCES. Because the Athlete signed and submitted the Early Admission and Acceptance Form he received a 1 year reduction from CCES.

Therefore CCES decides on 15 October 2024 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 25 July 2024.

In June 2024 the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) reported an anti-doping rule violation against the broomball player Nolan McAuley after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Cannabis.

After notification a provisional suspension was ordered and the Athlete failed to respond to the CCES communications.

Because the Athlete failed to dispute the asserted violation within the deadline the Athlete is deemed to have admitted the violation, to have waived his right for a hearing and to have accepted the sanction proposed by the CCES.

Therefore the CCES decides on 25 September 2024 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on 6 September 2024.

Report of the Independent Observers : 2023 Pan American Games, Santiago, Chile / Independent Observer Team. - Montreal : World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), 2024

World Anti-Doping Agency 2023 annual report / World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). - Montreal : WADA, 2024

CONTENTS

• Message from the President and Director General
• Our Team
• The Year in Numbers
• Lead
• Grow Impact
• Be Athlete Centered
• Collaborate and Unite
• Be Visible
• World Anti-Doping Program
• 2023 Financial Overview
• 2023 Financial Statements

Investigation report for the attention of World Anti-Doping Agency (hereinafter WADA), Montreal as part of the investigation carried out on behalf of the World Anti-Doping Agency in relation to 28 positive tests for Trimetazidine involving 23 Chinese swimmers between 1 and 3 January 2021 / Eric Cottier. - Montreal : WADA, 2024

• This is an English translation of the French original Report.
• The appendices referenced within the Report were made available to WADA Executive Committee members present for its 12 September meeting and, for reasons of data privacy, are not being published.

Findings:

• Report finds no bias towards China and reaffirms WADA’s decision not to appeal cases was reasonable 

• Report includes findings as to how anti-doping rules and WADA’s administrative processes can be further strengthened 

• Executive Committee agrees to establish a Working Group that will focus on recommendations that can be reviewed and approved by the ExCo 

In September 2024 the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) Executive Committee (ExCo) met in Belek, Republic of Türkiye, where it discussed the final reasoned report presented virtually by Independent Prosecutor, Mr. Eric Cottier, regarding his review of WADA’s handling of the China Anti-Doping Agency’s (CHINADA's) no-fault contamination cases involving 23 swimmers from China in 2021.   

In his opening remarks to the ExCo, Mr. Cottier said: “I am pleased to confirm that my conclusions, which were published via my interim report on 9 July, have not changed. The information in the file shows that WADA has done its work autonomously, independently and professionally, and that there is no evidence to the contrary. WADA has applied the rules to which its activity is subject.” 

Mr. Cottier then noted that his final reasoned report went beyond the two questions that he was posed for the review, offering a number of findings, including that:  

1. Clarification of certain anti-doping rules should be considered as part of the World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards Update Process that is currently underway, in particular with the regards to specific situations of group contamination; and  

2. Formalization of certain administrative processes should be considered within WADA. 

Mr. Cottier then turned his attention to CHINADA and, consistent with WADA’s previously stated view, said: “As far as the Chinese agency is concerned, it is clear that certain rules of the World Anti-Doping Code have not been applied. This is regrettable, but in the end, it does not change the outcome of the cases and the acceptance of the contamination hypothesis.” 

In June 2024, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Mongolian Athlete Shintsetseg Chuluunkhuu after her sample includes the prohibited substance Meldonium.

Following notification a provisional suspension was imposed and the Athlete filed a statement in her defence. She explained with medical documents that she underwent medical treatment in a hospital.

The AIU found that these medical documents were insufficient to explain the Athlete's positive test result. In August 2024, a Notice of Charge was issued and thereupon the Athlete failed to respond to the communications of the AIU .

Because the Athlete did not respond within the deadline, the AIU determined in September 2024 that the Athlete was deemed to have waived her right for a hearing and accepted the consequences. In addition, the AIU established that the Athlete had failed to sign and submit the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form.

Therefore the AIU decided, on 11 September 2024, to impose a 4 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 11 June 2024.

In August 2024 the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf on World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violations against the Ukrainian Athlete Nataliya Lehonkova after her sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Recombinant Erythropoietin (RhEPO).

Following notification the Athlete timely admitted the violation, waived her right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU. She could not explain how the substance had entered her system.

The AIU deems that the Athlete failed to establish that the violation was not intentional. Because she had signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations and Acceptance of Consequences Form she received a 1 year reduction from the AIU.

Therefore the AIU decides on 11 September 2024 to impose a 3 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 21 August 2024.

In June 2024, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), on behalf of World Athletics, reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Eritrean Athlete Nazret Weldu. The AIU deemed that the Athlete had 3 Whereabouts Failures recorded within a 12 month period:

• a Missed Test and/or Filing Failure dated 9 November 2023;
• a Missed Test and/or Filing Failure dated 8 December 2024; and
• a Missed Test and/or Filing Failure dated 22 May 2024.

The Athlete's representative submitted only an explanation to the AIU about the 3rd Whereabouts Failure. No administratieve review was requested and the Whereabouts Failures were recorded.

Following notification the Athlete explained that her representative had not updated her Whereabouts on two occasions. She herself was unable to communicate in English, had not received anti-doping education, had limited access to internet and was completely dependent of her coach and her representative.

The representative confirmed in his submission that the 2nd and 3rd Whereabouts Failure were entirely his fault. He acknowledged that he had forgotten to update the Whereabouts information in ADAMS.

Thereupon the Athlete gave a timely admission, waived her right for a hearing, accepted a provisional suspension and the sanction proposed by the AIU. Furthermore she signed and submitted the Admission of Anti-Doping Rule Violation and Acceptance of Consequences Form.

The AIU accepted the Athlete's explanation and concludes that she acted with some degree of Fault or Negligence. The AIU considers that the she has established that she was impaired by the circumstances in updating her Whereabouts information.

Therefore the AIU decides on 11 September 2024 to impose a 20 month period of ineligibility on the Athlete, starting on the date of the provisional suspension, i.e. on 17 June 2024.