Drug testing—two words that can send shivers down the spine of any athlete, especially in track and field, no matter their sport or level. Every athlete deserves to compete in a fair and clean environment at the Olympic Games, allowing the true spirit of sport to shine through. And to test this drug, testing is done to check if athletes use performance-enhancing drugs, which are banned by USATF!

But even though the Olympics are over and athletes were tested afterward, the shadow of doping is still hanging around. We saw in the Paris Olympics that Congolese sprinter Dominique Lasconi Mulamba tested positive for banned substances. While there were relatively few cases this time, it still shows ongoing challenges in the sports after the Olympics. But this time the track and field community isn’t happy with it.

After putting in countless hours of hard work, athletes decided to take some much-needed time off to relax and recharge. However, the doping issue continues to rear its head, and it seems they may be facing potential trouble as a result. It’s a frustrating situation for these champions, who just want to enjoy their success without the shadow of controversy hanging over them. You might ask how?

Recently, Tiara Williams, or as she’s known on X, Real Talk with Tee, shared her surprise about athletes getting drug tested during the off-season. In the post that has been now deleted, she said, “Good morning lol I can’t believe athletes are getting drug tested in the off-season lol that’s crazyyyyy when does it stop???” It’s a sentiment many fans can relate to, considering how intense the regulations can be.

Well, Chris Nickinson, the Editor-in-Chief of RunnerSpace, stated, “That’s literally how dopers get caught.” Tee responded with her own perspective, saying, “It sucks to be on call 12 months out of the year is all I’m saying. They already get ONE MONTH of off season lol.”

Meanwhile, some athletes are enjoying a much-needed break after the Paris Olympic Games. Gabby Thomas is soaking up the sun in the Maldives with her longtime boyfriend, Spencer McManes, while Noah Lyles and his girlfriend, Junelle Bromfield, are also enjoying their holiday vibes. But here’s the catch: even though they’re on vacation, they still have to keep in mind that off-season drug testing is part of the deal.

Even after the Olympics, the rules remain stringent. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and various sports federations can conduct out-of-competition testing at any time, meaning athletes must stay vigilant about anti-doping regulations while they relax and recharge. Tee’s post on this topic sparked a broader conversation in the track and field community, prompting many to share their views on the ongoing pressures of drug testing.

Understanding track and field fans’ views on drug testing

One track and field fan added, “It’s always been that way. And yea it’s pretty invasive and annoying sometimes. But that’s also why they give warnings for whereabouts failures.” In 2020, track and field saw nine athlete suspensions for whereabouts failures, a sharp rise from two in 2018 and 2019. Notable cases included Wilson Kipsang, Alfred Kipketer, Salwa Eid Naser, and Christian Coleman, who faced a potential two-year ban for his third failure.

One more added, “If an athlete believes in clean sport, then out-of-season testing cannot possibly be seen as a controversial activity.” In a similar tone, another chimed in, stating, “I believe in giving benefit of the doubt, but I also support measures like this. This is actually smart as that’s when a lot of the doping happens.” Well, it was precisely these tests that ensured the fairness of the Paris Olympics, even with five athletes testing positive for banned substances.

According to the International Testing Agency (ITA), only five athletes tested positive for banned substances out of a total of 4,770 tested—marking a record 39% of participants. That’s actually one fewer than the Tokyo Games in 2021, despite a 4% increase in athletes tested compared to the last Olympics and a 10% rise from Rio in 2016. The ITA highlighted that intense screening throughout 2024 meant that 90% of competitors were tested at least once before the Games, showing a strong commitment to fair play.

Five athletes tested positive for banned substances, including Iraqi judokas Sajjad Ghanim Sehen Sehen and Mohammad Samim Faizad, Cynthia Ogunsemilore, Congolese sprinter Dominique Lasconi Mulamba, and Bolivian swimmer Maria Jose Ribera Pinto. The ITA noted that these may not be the last athletes scrutinized, as they will continue to analyze samples collected during the Games.

One more track and field fan added, “It won’t because @WorldAthletics and @usatf are in bed with the drug testing companies allowing them to have full control over the sport working against the very athletes that they claim they’re working to protect. Until they get rid of WADA just like the NCAA, NFL, UFC and many others did and move to DFSI, they sport will forever be corrupt!” One more added, “Shhhhoot I gotta update my whereabouts to make sure they know I’m not taking steroids. Not the fact im 165 soaking wet.”

In particular, Olympic athletes are subject to ongoing monitoring and testing to ensure compliance with anti-doping regulations. This can include:

• Random Testing: Athletes may be selected for random drug tests at any time, even during the off-season.
• Whereabouts Requirements: Athletes are required to submit their whereabouts information, allowing doping control officers to locate them for testing outside of competition.
• Retrospective Testing: Samples taken during the Olympics can be stored and retested for banned substances in the future, using more advanced testing methods.

While athletes definitely deserve to celebrate their hard-earned wins, the reality is that the pressure of strict drug testing is always looming. As the track and field community deals with these ongoing challenges, it’s clear that the push for a clean and fair sport comes with its own set of complications and conversations.