WADA publishes 2021 and 2022 Anti-Doping Rule Violations Reports

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) today published its 2021 and 2022 Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) Reports, which are the official set of such figures under the World Anti-Doping Code. As with previous years, the Reports are available in a PDF version as well as dynamic Excel versions (2021 and 2022) that illustrate the ADRV results in an interactive fashion. 

The 2021 and 2022 ADRV Reports contain all ADRV decisions reported to WADA by Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs). These decisions include those from AAFs reported in samples collected by ADOs, as well as from non-analytical ADRV decisions rendered in 2021 and 2022. 

2021 Report 

The 2021 Report includes all decisions received by WADA’s Legal Affairs Department up to 28 October 2024 and highlights that there was a total of 1,388 ADRVs recorded in 2021. This represents an increase from the 2020 figure of 935. This increase can likely be attributed to testing figures returning to normal levels following the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected sample collection in 2019 and 2020. The ADRVs involve individuals from 111 nations and across 179 sports/disciplines.  

In 2021, 241,430 samples were collected by ADOs, compared to 149,758 samples in 2020.  

A total of 1,094 of the ADRVs came out of Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs), commonly known as ‘positive’ results. The remainder were non-analytical findings derived from investigations and evidence-based intelligence, resulting in 294 violations committed by 262 athletes and 32 Athlete Support Personnel. 

2022 Report 

The 2022 Report includes all decisions received by WADA’s Legal Affairs Department up to 30 May 2025 and highlights that there was a total of 1,652 ADRVs recorded in 2022. This represents an increase of 264 to the 2021 figure. The ADRV’s involved individuals from 115 nationalities and across 93 sports/disciplines.  

In 2022, 241,143 samples were collected by ADOs, consistent to the 241,430 collected in 2021.  

A total of 1,376 ADRVs came out of AAFs. The remainder were non-analytical findings derived from investigations and evidence-based intelligence, resulting in 276 violations committed by 242 athletes and 31 Athlete Support Personnel (in certain cases, an Athlete or Athlete Support Personnel may have been charged with more than one Non-Analytical ADRV). 

WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said: “WADA’s annual Anti-Doping Rule Violations Reports paint a detailed picture of the outcomes of testing programs conducted by Anti-Doping Organizations around the world. The 2021 and 2022 Reports are particularly insightful when read in combination with WADA’s Testing Figures Reports, which were published in January 2023 and April 2024 respectively. Both ADRV Reports show the effectiveness of intelligence and investigations, the continued impact of the advancements in scientific research and the importance of the Athlete Biological Passport in ensuring a level playing field for athletes worldwide.”    

As a matter of course, ADRV Reports are published later as processing ADRV cases is complex and labor-intensive, requiring extensive dialogue with the relevant results management authorities and other stakeholders. The 2023 Report will be published by the end of 2025.   

To help with the interpretation of both Reports, we provide comprehensive Question and Answer documents for 2021 and 2022.