WADA has released the "Operation Refuge" report, which provides a detailed insight into the trauma and isolation experienced by child athletes following a positive doping test, after conducting a thorough analysis.
In early 2021, WADA’s Confidential Information Unit (CIU) observed an increase in confidential reporting of doping activity amongst minors, including pre-teen athletes. While the lack of detail in many of these reports prevented substantive enforcement action, WADA followed up every case and launched investigations where appropriate.
Concerned by the nature and volume of reporting, Operation Refuge was commenced and conducted by WADA's Intelligence and Investigations Department.
WADA said its intelligence and investigations unit analysed testing data of samples collected from minors since 2012. Since 2012, there have been 1518 Adverse Analytical Findings reported against 1416 Minors, with diuretics, stimulants and anabolic steroids being the most detected substances.
The investigators also received 58 alerts since 2018 on a confidential hotline that implicated minors in doping.
Sports with the most positive tests reported against minors were (in descending order): weightlifting, athletics and aquatics.
The prohibited Substances most implicated in those sports were, respectively: Stanozolol, Metandienone and Methylphenidate.
Countries with the most positive tests reported against minors were (in descending order) Russia, India, and China. The prohibited substances most detected in minors from those countries were, respectively, Furosemide, Nandrolone (or its precursors), and Clenbuterol.
To view the full report please click here.
To view WADA’s statement please click here.
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