WADA publishes 2017 Testing Figures Report

Report Highlights

• A 7.1% increase in the overall number of samples analyzed: 300,565 in 2016 to 322,050 in 2017.
• A decrease in the proportion of Adverse Analytical Findings (AAF): 1.60% in 2016 (4,822 AAFs) to 1.43% in 2017 (4,596 AAFs). This is primarily due to the significant decrease in the reported cases of meldonium.
• About 80% of WADA-accredited laboratories saw an increase in the total number of samples.
• A relative increase in the overall number of (non-Athlete Biological Passport) blood samples analyzed: 7.75% in 2016 (23,298 of 300,565) to 8.62% in 2017 (27,759 of 322,050).
• An increase of 3% in the number of Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) samples analyzed: 28,173 in 2016 to 29,130 in 2017.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) today published its 2017 Testing Figures Report (2017 Report), which summarizes the results of all the samples WADA-accredited laboratories analyzed and reported in WADA’s Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS) in 2017.

This is the third set of global testing results since the revised World Anti-Doping Code (Code) came into effect in January 2015. The 2017 Report – which includes an Executive Summary and sub-reports by Laboratory, Sport, Testing Authority and ABP Blood Analysis – includes in- and out-of-competition urine samples; blood and ABP blood data; and, the resulting AAFs and Atypical Findings (ATFs).

WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said: “WADA is pleased to publish this report, which offers a comprehensive reflection of global anti-doping testing figures. In addition to the 2016 Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRV) Report published in April, this data will help organizations reflect on their anti-doping programs.

“The report is part of an overall suite of resources and activities that includes educational initiatives, intelligence and investigations, and information sharing between Anti-Doping Organizations that helps to protect the integrity of sport and protect clean athletes. Taken over time, the statistics found in the report enable the anti-doping community to identify areas of improvement so that any potential weaknesses can be strengthened as necessary.”

To help with the interpretation of the 2017 Report, we provide a comprehensive Question and Answer document. Of particular importance, please note that:

• One single result does not necessarily correspond to one athlete. Results may correspond to multiple findings regarding the same athlete or measurements performed on the same athlete, such as in the case of longitudinal studies of testosterone.
• The number of AAFs in the report may not correspond with the number of ADRVs reported by Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs). This is because all results are subject to a results management process conducted by ADOs, which includes matching results with Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs), and longitudinal studies which can result in no case to answer or no sanction.
• As usual, this report does not illustrate statistics on ADRVs, which are reported via a separate ADRV report – the 2017 version of which will be released in 2019. The ADRV report reveals analytical and non-analytical cases and the outcomes of results management, which is a process that can take a long time given that it may include investigations, appeals, etc.