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A hand wearing a blue glove handles urine samples in an anti-doping laboratory
Image: Robert Michael/dpa/picture allianceImage: Robert Michael/dpa/picture alliance

Doping

The fight against illegal performance-enhancing substances has led the World Anti-Doping Agency, WADA, to develop strict rules. But some criminal athletes and doctors are always looking to remain one step ahead.

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All Content on this topic

Poland's Iga Swiatek holds the trophy as she poses for media during the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 9, 2024. Swiatek won the title on Saturday in the final against Italy's Jasmine Paolini.

Tennis world No. 2 Swiatek gets 1-month doping suspension

Iga Swiatek failed a doping test in August but authorities said it appeared to be an honest mistake.
SportsNovember 28, 2024
Jannik Sinner kisses the US Open trophy

Jannik Sinner tennis doping ban: What is happening?

US Open men's champion and world number one Jannik Sinner could be banned from tennis for up to two years.
SportsSeptember 28, 2024
Olympic swimmers, including Zhang Yufei of China, are seen from under the water

Did China cover up a swim team doping scandal?

Positive doping samples from almost two dozen Chinese athletes are said to have been swept under the rug.
SportsApril 23, 2024
Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba hit with four-year doping ban

The World Cup winner has received a maximum ban from Italy's anti-doping court after testing positive for testosterone.
SportsFebruary 29, 2024
Kamila Valieva on the ice with her hands on her head

CAS bans Russian figure skater Valieva for doping

As a result, the ISU has stripped the Russian Olympic Committee of its gold medal in the 2022 Olympic team event.
SportsJanuary 29, 2024
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The 'super shoe' debate & eight drunk monkeys

Scientists 'cure' alcoholic primates of their booze lust, and why'd the new marathon world-record holder kiss her shoe?
ScienceSeptember 30, 202322:29 min
Kamila Valieva skating in Beijing

Kamila Valieva Olympic doping case up for appeal

More than a year after a positive doping test came to light , the Court of Arbitration for Sport is hearing an appeal.
SportsSeptember 26, 2023
Simon Halep with the Wimbledon trophy

Simona Halep and the complex world of anti-doping

An anti-doping expert told DW that controls in sport lack the proper research and leave athletes with little defense.
SportsSeptember 19, 2023
Olympische Spiele Peking Kamila Valieva Eiskunstlauf Russland

Kamila Valieva doping scandal: What you need to know

Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva is facing a potential four-year ban for doping. Here’s what you need to know
SportsNovember 15, 2022
Woman holding a football and wearing a Bayern Munich football shirt.

Sport in Germany: Football, Olympics and a doping scandal

Which sports get German fans cheering? Take the Meet the Germans crash course in German sports.
CultureMarch 17, 202206:08 min
Kamila Valieva slumped over between her coaches at Beijing2022

Olympics boss rips entourage of figure skater Valieva

Thomas Bach slammed Russian teen Kamila Valieva's entourage for their "tremendous coldness" after her Beijing final.
SportsFebruary 18, 2022
Kamila Valieva after a fall with her hands on the ice

Kamila Valieva misses out on figure skating medal

Following a doping controversy, Kamila Valieva fell twice as she finished fourth in the women's figure skating.
SportsFebruary 17, 2022
Kamila Valieva competes in the women's single skating free skating at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games

Valieva: Grandfather's meds led to positive test

Russia's figure skating team has claimed a contaminated water glass may be to blame for Kamila Valieva's positive test.
SportsFebruary 15, 2022
Kommentarbild von Andreas Sten-Ziemons

When will Russia finally learn its lesson?

Andreas Sten-Ziemons
If doping allegations against Kamila Valieva are confirmed, there must finally be real consequences for Russia.
SportsFebruary 14, 2022
Marco Odermatt of Switzerland in slalom action at the Beijing Olympics 2022

Odermatt powers to slalom gold

Snow finally fell during an Alpine skiing race in Beijing, causing some issues. But Marco Odermatt dealt with them best.
SportsFebruary 13, 2022
Russian Olympic figure skater Kamila Valieva

Doping hearing to decide Olympic fate of Russian skater

The International Testing Agency says it will challenge a decision to lift a ban on Russian skater Kamila Valieva.
SportsFebruary 11, 2022
Peking Olympische Winterspiele | Eiskunstlaufen Nathan Chen

Nathan Chen dazzles his way to gold

Nathan Chen he won gold in the men's figure skating, but there was doping controversy in the women's discipline.
SportsFebruary 10, 2022
Valieva competes during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at the Capital Indoor Stadium

Mystery surrounds Russian Olympic skater doping case

Officials have said the case of figure skater Kamila Valieva is a legal issue, but declined to comment further.
SportsFebruary 10, 2022
Boats prepare to remove Olympic rings in Tokyo

Tokyo Olympics: US charges therapist over doping

A therapist in Texas has been accused of giving performance-enhancing drugs to athletes during last year's Olympics
CrimeJanuary 12, 2022
Claudia Pechstein CDU

Speed skater Pechstein qualifies for eighth Olympics

49-year old Claudia Pechstein qualifies to compete in eighth Winter Olympics.
SportsDecember 13, 2021
man with basketball

Cannabis in sports: Performing on a high

Things aren't so simple when it comes to cannabis in sports. WADA is set to review its list of banned substances.
SportsSeptember 23, 2021
Two athletes of Team Great Britain shaking hands during a medal ceremony at the Tokyo Olympics

Skin-contact doping: Athletes beware

A handshake, a pat on the back ― it looks like such brief physical contact is enough to lead to a positive doping test.
ScienceJuly 29, 2021
Sha'Carri Richardson pointing on track

Tokyo Olympics: How effective will doping controls be?

Delayed, few fans and a coronavirus spike in Tokyo. Has the past year offered athletes greater opportunities to cheat?
SportsJuly 20, 2021
Russian Olympic Comittee (ROC) athletes in their neutral colors for Tokyo 2020

Olympic Games: Russian athletes to take Tchaikovsky to Tokyo

The Olympic Games in Tokyo will be a new experience for Russian athletes competing under a neutral flag.
SportsJuly 15, 2021
Dr Richard Freeman

Ex-British cycling doctor found guilty of doping charge

The former British Cycling and Team Sky chief doctor has been found guilty of ordering a banned substance.
SportsMarch 5, 2021
Mark S. at trial in Munich

German blood doping doctor sentenced to jail

It is the first large-scale criminal trial since Germany introduced anti-doping legislation in 2015.
SportsJanuary 15, 2021
Russia flag and the Olympic symbol

Russia Olympic ban upheld, but reduced to 2 years

Russian athletes will still be permitted to compete, however without their flag, colors and national anthem.
SportsDecember 17, 2020
A technician holds a test tube with a blood sample at an anti-doping laboratory

US Senate passes international anti-doping bill

The bill was named after the whistleblower who revealed the Russia doping scandal in 2016.
SportsNovember 17, 2020
Christian Coleman

World 100m champion suspended over missed drug test

US sprinter Christian Coleman could now miss the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 after missing three drug tests in 12 months.
SportsJune 17, 2020
Symbolbild Sport und Doping | Laufen

Doping: How coronavirus impacts war on cheats

With the world paralyzed by the coronavirus pandemic, are doping cheats going undetected?
SportsMay 28, 2020
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe

Dopers during pandemic 'will get caught'

In an interview with DW, athletics head Sebastian Coe warned dopers who may try to profit from the coronavirus crisis.
SportsApril 24, 2020
Labor der Anti-Doping Agentur POLADA

Has the coronavirus opened the door to unchecked doping?

The corona pandemic has paralyzed the battle against doping in sports. Is it an open invitation for would-be cheaters?
SportsApril 2, 2020
Olympic swimming champion Sun Yang

Olympic champion swimmer Sun Yang gets eight-year doping ban

One of China's biggest sports stars, reigning Olympic champion swimmer Sun Yang, will likely miss the Tokyo Games.
SportsFebruary 28, 2020
Blood in bags

German sports doctor charged in doping probe

A German doctor has been formally accused of providing doping services to athletes across multiple sports.
SportsDecember 19, 2019
The Russian National Anti-doping Agency RUSADA

Russia to appeal WADA ban

The ban came after WADA found that RUSADA had provided it with manipulated doping data.
SportsDecember 19, 2019
A Russian flag held near a sign featuring the Olympic Rings (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

WADA seeks 4-year Russia Olympic ban

The anti-doping agency has said Russia doctored lab data, and is calling for another ban for Russian athletes.
SocietyNovember 26, 2019
5. Welt-Anti-Doping-Konferenz Witold Banka Sportminister von Polen

Witold Banka appointed as new WADA president

Polish government minister Witold Banka has been confirmed as the next president of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
SportsNovember 7, 2019
Kanada Witold Banka in Montreal

Witold Banka: 'We must eliminate doping'

The future WADA president wants to create a fund to support anti-doping in Africa and boost international cooperation.
SportsOctober 29, 2019
Vize-Chefin der russischen Antidopingagentur RUSADA Margarita Pakhnotskaya

Deputy head of RUSADA: 'The data was deleted'

The deputy head of RUSADA has denied manipulating lab data. WADA has opened compliance proceedings against RUSADA.
SportsOctober 24, 2019
Germany's Konstanze Klosterhalfen celebrates placing third in the Women's 5000m final at the 2019 IAAF Athletics World Championships

Nike shuts down Oregon Project after anti-doping ban

German long-distance runner Konstanze Klosterhalfen's training center is set to close, following a doping scandal.
SportsOctober 11, 2019
Alberto Salazar

Salazar handed four year ban for doping violations

The former trainer of Olympic champion runner Mo Farah was found to have breached anti-doping regulations.
SportsOctober 1, 2019
A drug tester holds a vial at Moscow's anti-doping lab

IOC president supports 'fresh look' at Russian doping

The head of the IOC has addressed allegations that critical lab data was manipulated by Russia's anti-doping body.
SportsSeptember 27, 2019
Katar Khalifa International Stadium in Doha

IAAF Championships: Battle against doping continues

The fight against doping continues as the IAAF Worlds kick off in Doha. Here are the major doping-related storylines.
SportsSeptember 26, 2019
Leichtathletik - Hammerwerfer Dilschod Nazarow

World Championship bans for Kenyan and Tajikistani athletes

Several elite athletes will miss out on the 2019 World Championships after failing to meet anti-doping requirements.
SportsSeptember 25, 2019
New doping claims have emerged about Kenyan athletics

Report claims doping in Kenyan athletics is widespread

Just days before the World Athletics Championships, fresh claims of widespread doping in Kenya have emerged.
SportsSeptember 23, 2019
Christian Coleman

Anti-doping agency drops charges against sprinter Coleman

American Christian Coleman, the man hailed as the next Usain Bolt, was facing a possible two-year ban.
SportsSeptember 2, 2019
Jan Ullrich

Disgraced Tour de France winner Ullrich fined for assault

The German former cyclist has also paid compensation and apologized to the victim.
CrimeAugust 28, 2019
Christian Coleman of the US and Usain Bolt of Jamaica compete in the men's 100 meters final at the World Athletics Championships in London

Sprinter Christian Coleman to face anti-doping hearing

Failing to provide "whereabouts information" can result in a ban from anti-doping authorities.
SportsAugust 27, 2019
USA Christian Coleman, 100-Meter-Läufer

US sprinter could face drug ban after missed tests — reports

The fastest man in the world this year could miss the 2020 Olympics, with reports suggesting he has missed drug tests.
SportsAugust 22, 2019
1. Bundesliga 01. Spieltag | Eintracht Frankfurt vs. TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

NADA investigating treatment of Frankfurt's Hinteregger

Eintracht Frankfurt defender Martin Hinteregger was treated with a needle during Sunday's Bundesliga opener.
SportsAugust 20, 2019