麻豆传媒

Skip to main content

Stricter drug testing before Paris Olympics ordered for track and field athletes from 4 countries

The Olympic rings are set up at Trocadero plaza that overlooks the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Sept. 14, 2017. (AP Photo / Michel Euler, File) The Olympic rings are set up at Trocadero plaza that overlooks the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Sept. 14, 2017. (AP Photo / Michel Euler, File)
Share
MONACO -

Track and field athletes from Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Portugal will be tested more often ahead of this year's Paris Olympics because of sub-standard anti-doping programs at home, the sport鈥檚 investigators said Monday.

Each country failed to heed warnings after the 2022 world championships held in Eugene, Oregon, to improve no-notice testing ahead of the 2023 edition, the Athletics Integrity Unit said, calling the targeted testing by nation 鈥渦nprecedented.鈥

鈥淎ll four failed to ensure that there was proportionate (out-of-competition) testing for their teams at the following World Athletics Championships in Budapest,鈥 said the AIU, which is widely seen as the best among Olympic sports for investigating doping and corruption.

At the 2023 worlds, Ecuador and Peru each took home one silver medal and Brazil got one bronze. All were in race walking.

Now, the World Athletics governing body backed the AIU's advice that non-elite athletes from the four countries can be eligible to compete in Paris only if they give at least three no-notice samples in training in the 10 months up to July 4. Track and field events in Paris start on Aug. 1.

鈥淚n this Olympic year, we trust this will be a reminder to all member federations that the AIU and World Athletics are extremely serious about ensuring a level-playing field for athletes,鈥 the AIU chairman David Howman said.

Stricter testing will be demanded for athletes in endurance events, defined as 鈥渇rom 800 meters upward.鈥 They also must give a blood sample for their biological passport and a test for EPO, the blood-boosting hormone banned in sport.

The enhanced testing will be done on athletes outside the top-10 world ranking in their event. Elite athletes already are targeted by the AIU as likely medal winners at major championships.

The Monaco-based investigators said the targeted program will protect the Olympics 鈥渇rom athletes who emerge quickly through the rankings or produce surprise performances, or where the depth of talent means results are unpredictable.鈥

Two national track and field teams, Czech Republic and New Zealand, also warned about their anti-doping programs after the 2022 worlds were praised Monday as having 鈥渋mproved their testing dramatically.鈥

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

A Brampton woman says she is devastated after she lost more than $200,000 鈥 her life's savings 鈥 to a romance scam.

The principal of an Ottawa high school is apologizing to students, parents and guardians after an Arabic-language song was played during the school's Remembrance Day service.

Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus was among approximately 120 people who gathered Sunday night for a candlelight vigil near the scene of a vicious attack against a 16-year-old in Cobalt.

Local Spotlight

For the second year in a row, the 鈥楪ift-a-Family鈥 campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts 鈥 not for themselves, but for those in need.

A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.

Stay Connected