TESTING PROCESS

In the last Olympics, Pyeongchang 2018, 3,149 anti-doping tests were conducted, making it the most robust anti-doping program in the history of the Olympic Winter Games. Of these tests, 1,393 were in competition, and 1,756 were out of competition.

Of the 2,963 accredited athletes, 1,615 were tested at least once, representing 54%, with the majority being tested out of competition.

The Russian Olympic Committee was banned from competing in the 2018 Games, but athletes deemed clean could compete under the Olympic flag as Olympic Athlete from Russia (as they are this year). Four athletes tested positive for banned substances in the 2018 Games. Two of them were Olympic Athletes from Russia.

Prohibited at all times:

Non-approved substances Anabolic agents Peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances and mimetics Beta-2 agonists Hormone and metabolic modulators

Prohibited in competition:

Stimulants Narcotics Cannabinoids (THC) Glucocorticoids

Prohibited in particular sports

Beta-blockers (blood pressure medication)

Not all testing violations result in a ban

Status of cases in 2014 (most complete data available) More than half of the violations were for anabolic steroids or masking agents of their use. Sources: The Associated Press, World Anti-doping Agency, BBC, International Association of Athletics Federations, International Olympic Committee, U.S. Anti-doping Agency. Photos from The Associated Press and Wikimedia Commons