2026 Winter Olympics: Drugs
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
It has been reported that, for the first time in 28 years, no athletes, at least to date, have been found to have taken any banned substances at the Winter Olympic Games, which were held in Milan-Cortina, Italy, in February 2026.
More than 3,000 samples were collected from almost 2,000 athletes who participated in the Games. However, as samples are kept for 10 years, to allow for retrospective testing, when any new techniques arise, it is too early, therefore, to characterise the Games as the cleanest.
In fact, following the 2012 London Olympic Games, 31 medals were withdrawn and another 46 reallocated because of subsequent positive drugs tests.
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