UKAD reports a 76% increase in testing in 2021 compared to 2020

Testing Programme
Sample
  • 76% increase in tests conducted during April – December 2021 compared to April – December 2020
  • During October to December 2021 (quarter three) the most tested sports were football, cycling, boxing, rugby league and rugby union

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has released its testing report for the third quarter of 2021/22, which also gives a roundup of the testing conducted throughout its financial year to date (April to December 2021). The report shows a 76% increase in testing numbers from April to December 2021 compared to the equivalent period in 2020.

The report, which UKAD publishes quarterly, shows that 1,968 tests were conducted from October to December 2021 (quarter three), with the most tested sports during that period being football, cycling, boxing, rugby league and rugby union.

In April to December 2021, 6,400 tests were conducted, compared to 3,622 in April to December 2020. The results show an upwards trend in numbers as UKAD continues to ramp up testing following the easing of Government restrictions in the UK and on sport due to COVID-19.

The combination of the summer and winter Olympic and Paralympic Games has meant it was vital for UKAD to successfully deliver two pre-Games testing programmes within the same year.

UKAD Deputy Director of Operations (Testing) Hamish Coffey, said: “With the easing of Government restrictions in the UK in 2021 we have been able to boost testing numbers significantly throughout the last three quarters of our financial year. With the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games taking place last summer and the build up to the Beijing 2022 Games, it’s been a vital time for us to try to grow back our testing programme post COVID-19.

“Despite challenges faced by all of us due to the Omicron variant and new restrictions coming in towards the end of 2021, the testing programme was able to continue, and we were able to maintain our numbers throughout the quarter. We are still working hard to ensure the health and safety of athletes and our Doping Control Personnel is at the forefront of our testing programme by keeping COVID-19 safety measures in place.

“Whilst we’re always trying to deliver a risk-based and intelligence-led testing programme, our education and outreach programmes continue to be a huge focus for us, as they aim to educate athletes and those around them of the risks of doping and the importance of sporting integrity and fair play.”

In addition to UKAD collecting samples from athletes in the UK, international tests of UK athletes based overseas while training or competing are conducted on behalf of UKAD by the local National Anti-Doping Organisation or private Sample Collection Agency. UK athletes may also have been tested by their respective International Federation.