WADA expresses confidence in anti-doping program ahead of Milano Cortina 2026

On the eve of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, the President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Witold Bańka, commended the organizers for their readiness to deliver an effective anti-doping program for the event, and pledged WADA’s support as the clean sport community seeks to provide a level playing field for the athletes. 

Speaking on Thursday in Milan, Mr. Bańka said: “I would like to thank all those contributing to the success of the Games, especially the athletes, whose natural ability, hard work and sacrifice will amaze and entertain millions of sports fans around the world in the coming weeks. 

“For several years, WADA and its partners have been diligently preparing for Milano Cortina 2026. Like fans all over the globe, we are excited for the start of what is the greatest winter sport event on the planet. From an anti-doping point of view, preparations have been a truly international and collaborative effort, relying on the expertise and dedication of many people and organizations. It is inspiring to see the unity and positivity within anti-doping ahead of the Games.” 

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) delegates the management of the anti-doping program for the Olympic Games to the International Testing Agency (ITA) and, in the years leading up to the Games, WADA has worked closely with both organizations, specifically with regards to the ITA’s pre-Games phase of its independent anti-doping program.  

The ITA’s pre-Games program, announced in October 2025, identifies and addresses potential gaps in the strategic aspects of anti-doping programs, and follows up with stakeholders with targeted recommendations in the weeks and months leading up to the Games. 

WADA also collaborates closely with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in preparing the anti-doping program for the Paralympic Games, which is run by the IPC. 

In the lead-up to the Games, WADA called on National Anti-Doping Organizations and International Federations to work together to ensure that important steps were completed in advance, namely: 

• Ensuring that athletes were subject to appropriate levels of in- and out-of-competition testing based on the risk assessment of the sport and athlete;   
• Implementing recommendations from the ITA’s pre-Games phase of its independent anti-doping program, and/or from Athlete Passport Management Units (APMUs);   
• Entering all doping control forms into the Anti-Doping Administration & Management System [ADAMS] and ensuring the WADA-accredited laboratories receive the samples in a timely fashion and considering whether quick turn-around analysis is required on samples for athletes tested close to the start of Milano Cortina 2026 to undertake priority analysis, so that results can be provided at least 72 hours prior to the athlete competing in their first event at the Games; and 
• Considering long-term storage so that samples can be subject to further analysis for up to the subsequent 10 years. 

WADA Director General, Olivier Niggli said: “The lead-up to the Games is a demanding time for all Anti-Doping Organizations. Our role, together with our partners, is to ensure that pre-Games testing is precise, so that athletes arrive at Milano Cortina 2026 having been tested the right amount, based on the risk assessment and available intelligence. All the elements must be in place to build confidence in the anti-doping program, and this is only achievable through clear lines of communication and strong collaboration.”

In May 2025, via WADA’s Anti-Doping Education and Learning (ADEL) platform, WADA, the IOC and ITA jointly launched the ‘ADEL for Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026’ education course for athletes and coaches, which is available in 18 languages. 

In July, together with the International Paralympic Committee, a corresponding course was launched for the Paralympics. The reaction has been extremely encouraging with more than 6,000 athletes and coaches combined having completed the courses.

As with many major events, WADA will have Independent Observer (IO) and Athlete Engagement (AE) teams on site at both the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The IO program is designed to enhance athlete and public confidence as to the quality, effectiveness, and reliability of anti-doping programs during major international multisport events. More details regarding the IO teams at Milano Cortina 2026 are available here.  

Meanwhile, the Athlete Engagement (AE) teams will be stationed in the Athlete Villages to deliver the ‘One Play True Team’ campaign, which aims to raise awareness about doping-free sport. The AE teams for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter games are entirely made up of current and former members of WADA’s Athlete Council. More details regarding the AE teams at Milano Cortina 2026 are available here.  

For several months, preparations have been ongoing to ensure that the WADA-accredited laboratory responsible for the analysis of samples from the Games, the Laboratorio Antidoping FMSI in Rome, is primed to handle the added workload that comes with analyzing samples during any Olympic and Paralympic Games. Prior to and during the Games, a WADA expert will be on hand as part of WADA’s IO team to observe, assist and advise the laboratory, as appropriate. 

On 3 February, Mr. Bańka also addressed the 145th IOC Session, which featured a session which highlighted the robust pre-Games testing program, reinforcing the importance of unifying anti-doping efforts and reiterating the sporting movement’s commitment to clean sport. 

Note to editors: On Thursday 5 February at 11:00 (CET), a WADA media conference took place at the main Olympic media center in Milan, with President Witold Bańka, Vice-President Yang Yang, Director General Olivier Niggli, and Chair of the Independent Observer team Thomas Capdevielle. The event was livestreamed on MediaZone, which can be accessed by all accredited journalists. A recording of the conference is also available on the MediaZone platform for accredited media to download. WADA is not involved in that process – for details, please contact the Milano Cortina 2026 organizers.