
The International Olympic Committee reanalyses further London 2012 samples for banned substances
November 2, 2018
The International Olympic Committee reanalyses further London 2012 samples for banned substances
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is currently conducting additional analyses on the samples collected from the Olympic Games London 2012. This programme, which uses the latest scientific analysis methods, aims to test samples for all substances prohibited in 2012.
If an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) is confirmed for any of the reanalysed samples from London 2012, the concerned athlete will be informed accordingly, after which the proceedings against the athlete can begin.*
As the International Testing Agency (ITA) is now operational, the IOC has delegated results management to the ITA, which will therefore review all the test results and notify the athletes concerned. The notification will give them the choice to have their case heard before CAS or before an IOC Disciplinary Commission. This choice is given as the Anti-Doping Rules (ADR) for the Olympic Games London 2012 still apply for cases that arise from the current reanalyses. In addition to results management, the IOC has also delegated the selection of samples to be reanalysed to the ITA.
Prior to the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and in the context of the investigations into the systematic manipulation of the anti-doping system in Russia, more than 500 reanalyses were already conducted for London 2012, resulting in 48 Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs). These were mostly for anabolic steroids detected through the new long-term metabolite (LTM) test.
The reanalysis programme for the samples from the Olympic Games London 2012 will continue in 2019 before the statute of limitations is reached by 2020.
This is part of the IOCs efforts to protect clean athletes and the integrity of the competition. The IOC has been storing samples from the Olympic Games since Athens 2004 and has reanalysed them systematically. The fight against doping is a top priority for the IOC, which has established a zero-tolerance policy to combat cheating and to make anyone responsible for using or providing doping products accountable.