Fair game is what the Olympics prides itself on, but at what cost? Just and safe competitions are a cornerstone of the Olympics, and ensuring this requires rigorous measures against doping. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), since its inception in 2000, has been at the forefront of enforcing strict drug testing policies for Olympic, Pan American, and Paralympic sports. While crucial for keeping sports fair, these policies often take a personal toll on athletes. They have to give up some privacy and freedom to follow the rules.

Athletes in the USADA drug-testing pool are required to provide their “whereabouts” at all times. Being available for testing at any time, day or night, every day of the year is not very comforting. They report their planned locations every three months and update any changes daily through an app on their phones. Although this process is necessary for surprise tests, many athletes find it invasive and demanding.

As Tori Franklin shared, “On any given day at any given time, a USADA employee can knock on our door to test us. There is no warning. They MIGHT call you once they arrive if you haven’t answered their knock at the door, but they are not required to do so. And once they leave, it’s considered a missed test.”

Three missed tests within 12 months count the same as a positive test and thus can result in suspension. This stringent rule has led to numerous high-profile bans, impacting athletes’ careers and reputations. Ahead of the Paris Olympics, track and field stars such as Sha’Carri Richardson, Noah Lyles, Christian Coleman, and others have publicly voiced their frustrations with these protocols.

Struggles with drug testing ahead of the Paris Olympics

In 2021, Sha’Carri Richardson was suspended for a month by the USADA after testing positive for THC (marijuana) while trying to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. As disappointing and damaging as this was to her reputation, Sha’Carri is determined not to let anything hold her back from her route to the Paris Olympics. In 2022, she vented her frustration on social media, stating, “USADA act more like a PO but they say they care about the sport 🤡.”

Weightlifting champion Gwendolyn Sisto echoed her sentiment, adding, “Nothing like being woken-up at 6AM on a Sunday, so a random stranger can watch me pee in a cup, so I might compete at a competition for USA.” Unfortunately, Sha’Carri’s challenges with drug testing didn’t stop there. In 2024 alone, she has shared multiple instances where surprise tests disrupted her daily life. An Instagram story from April 2024 showed her undergoing the mandatory drug test for Olympic qualification, which USADA scheduled during Easter, spoiling her holiday.

Just two days later, she posted another update, saying, “2 days later and another one.” The testing even followed her to Paris. During a significant moment—her statue being unveiled by Nike—she shared the testing process on her Instagram story, captioning it, “Clean Sports [emoji].” Despite the inconvenience and visible discomfort, Sha’Carri managed to keep a cheerful outlook throughout the process. In December 2023, USADA required all athletes to submit detailed information about their whereabouts.

Reflecting on her past experiences, the “I’m not back, I’m better” star voiced her concerns: “There are many concerns even as an elite athlete myself I’m worried about because this will impact my career if I don’t understand what to do.” But Sha’Carri is not alone in these struggles. Team USA secured their Olympic spot by dominating the final 4x100m relay at the Bahamas World Athletics Relays, with Noah Lyles anchoring the team to victory on May 5th.

However, their ordeal didn’t end with the race. Afterwards, all athletes faced the mandatory doping test. Lyles shared his frustrations on Instagram, lamenting, “Just when you think the job is done, doping control comes take away the fun. It’s 1 a.m., I haven’t eaten, definitely haven’t slept, definitely haven’t shower. All I want is to go home.”

Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson’s experience highlights how taxing these measures can be, especially for athletes who are juggling their Olympic dreams while trying to manage their schedules, meals, and rest. As we reflect on this ongoing tension between maintaining clean sports and respecting athletes’ personal lives, let us see how many other athletes have also voiced their concerns about USADA’s testing policies.

A similar plight seen by other track stars

Balancing a sports career and parenthood is tough, but Nia Ali, a 2016 Olympic silver medalist in the 100-meter hurdles, manages it with grace. However, in May 2024, Nia took to X to express her frustration with USADA’s surprise visits. Preparing for Paris while managing family time is already challenging, and unplanned tests add to the stress. Ali made her feelings clear, writing, “I have 3 kids, a man and myself… keeping up our schedules is hard enough. Anti-doping please stop disrupting my already busy schedule to come outside of my slot!!!!!! I should not have to leave the movie theater or have you ride in my car to sit in the school line to get my kids.” 

Complaints about USADA’s policies aren’t new. Christian Coleman, the world indoor record holder for the 60 meters, faced a provisional suspension on June 17, 2020, due to a missed drug test on December 9, 2019. Although he later got his suspension reduced to a year, he still missed the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. In 2019, Coleman criticized USADA for mishandling his case. He missed three tests in 2019 simply because he wasn’t where he said he’d be during the one-hour testing window.

After the case was dropped, Coleman said that USADA CEO Travis Tygart had called to apologize for the unprofessional handling of his case. Coleman requested a public apology, feeling the ordeal had damaged his reputation before a major championship. Coleman highlighted the ease of missing tests, saying, “I feel like people don’t realize how easy it is to miss tests.” He shared how people criticized him and said he was stupid for missing the tests.

However, he asserted, “It has nothing to do with doping. It has nothing to do with trying to dodge tests.” As we contemplate the shared struggle of athletes, what do you think about the concerns raised by athletes regarding these stringent policies? Do you believe they are fair to the athletes? Share your thoughts below!