Investigative Reports

Operation URRACA Investigation Report

This investigation performed a review into alleged breaches of the World Anti-Doping Code and departures from the International Standards, allegedly committed by the management of the Spanish Commission for the Fight Against Doping in Sports (CELAD). The allegations were found to be unsubstantiated. Although most of the cases reviewed were deemed to have been properly handled, Operation Urraca’s review identified certain issues requiring follow-up actions and CELAD has already acted on their own initiative to address these matters.

Operation OBSIDIAN Investigation Report

A joint investigation by the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) Intelligence and Investigations department and World Rugby investigated claims that players were engaging in sample substitution in blatant contravention of the rules, which resulted in anti-doping rule violations being confirmed against six players and one member of the athlete support personnel from the Georgia national rugby union team, and a loss of confidence by WADA in the Georgian Anti-Doping Agency due to a number of breaches of the World Anti-Doping Code.

On 2 October 2024, WADA’s I&I Department concluded three interconnected investigations into allegations of performance enhancing drug (PED) trafficking, advance notice of testing, and other allegations involving three Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs). Given the seriousness of the allegations including potential criminal activities, certain aspects were referred to a law enforcement agency, which subsequently launched its own investigation. WADA I&I fully cooperated with the agency. While WADA I&I cannot comment on the outcomes of the law enforcement investigation, it did not uncover evidence to substantiate the original allegations.

In line with WADA’s I&I policy, the findings of investigations are typically published. However, concerns regarding the safety of a source prompted WADA’s Executive Committee, during its meeting on 4 December 2024, to decide against publishing the full report. Instead, this summary has been released to maintain transparency while safeguarding the individuals involved. 

Operation FENNEC Investigation Report

In April 2022, the World Anti-Doping Agency Intelligence and Investigations Department (“WADA I&I”) commenced Operation Fennec, an investigation into allegations that some elite Moroccan born long-distance athletes (from the sport of athletics) of dual nationality were effectively putting themselves beyond the reach of out-of-competition testing through a combination of suspicious and inaccurate whereabouts patterns, and training in remote areas of Morocco for extended periods of time.

6 October 2023

Operation ASH Investigation Report

This report details the result of the World Anti-Doping Agency Intelligence and Investigations Department (“WADA I&I”) investigation into media allegations that the International Tennis Federation (“ITF”) conducts unjustified advance notice testing (“allows players to book their own drug tests”) as part of its Athlete Biological Passport (“ABP”) program (“Allegation One”),1 and the ITF “inflates” the number of samples it collects (“Allegation Two”).

5 January 2023

Operation JASMINE Investigation Report

A joint investigation by WADA’s World Anti-Doping Agency Intelligence and Investigations Department (“WADA I&I”) and the International Testing Agency into allegations that officials from the National Anti-Doping Organization of Pakistan directed weightlifters to refuse sample collection, and that some elite Pakistani athletes were given unjustified advance-notice of testing, in contravention of the International Standard for Testing and Investigations.

16 August 2022

Operation GHOST Investigation Report

An offshoot of Operation Arrow (that looked into the practice of urine substitution in weightlifting) investigating allegations that the National Anti-Doping Organization of Turkey had not sufficiently progressed a clear case of urine sample substitution involving a Turkish wrestler.

9 August 2022

Operation DELPHIN Investigation Report

Investigation into allegations involving the Bulgarian Swimming Federation (“BSF”) after some media reports that a doping program existed within the BSF, that the athletes were unwitting participants in the program, and that they had tested positive for Stanozolol. The article also purportedly quoted the Athletes as claiming they were compelled by coaching and medical staff to take the Supplements during training camps and were not told what the Supplements contained.

30 May 2022

Operation HERCULES Investigation Report

Investigation into allegations that the National Anti-Doping Organisation of Ukraine (NADC) engaged practices that contravened the International Standard for Testing and Investigations (ISTI)

21 October 2021

Operation ECHO Investigation Report

Investigation into allegations that the National Anti-Doping Organisation of the United Kingdom (UKAD) allowed British Cycling to test athletes in a private, non-WADA-accredited laboratory for the purposes of screening for Prohibited Substance.

Nike Oregon Investigation Report

This review deals with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) investigation into possible Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) and whether all avenues have been exhausted to identify and establish potential ADRVs against athletes and athlete support personnel involved in the Nike Oregon Project.

IWF Investigation Report

Investigation of the International Weightlifting Federation and the sport of weightlifting including four operations: Outreach, Heir, Extra and Arrow.

Outreach centers allegations against a high-ranking member of the IWF; Heir centers allegations that select Romanian weightlifters were part of an organized doping program; Extra centers on the diverse allegations of deficient and improper practices by some national weightlifting federations; and Arrow which centers into global practice of urine substitution by athletes and the use of doppelgangers within the sport of weightlifting.

McLaren Independent Investigation Report

• Part 1 - 18 July 2016
• Part 2 - 9 December 2016

Investigation into allegations of Russian state manipulation of the doping control process, which were made by Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, the former director of the WADA-accredited laboratory in Moscow.

Independent Commission (Pound) Report

• Part 1 - 9 November 2015
• Part 2 - 27 January 2016

Investigation into allegations of doping and corrupt practices in Russia and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).