The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has announced enhanced out-of-competition (OOC) drug testing protocols for athletes hailing from Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Portugal in preparation for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, set to commence on July 26.
In a statement released on Monday, the AIU highlighted shortcomings in the national testing programs of the aforementioned countries following the World Athletics Championships 2022 in Eugene. \"The four federations received clear warnings from the AIU about the insufficiency of their national testing programs after the World Athletics Championships 2022 in Eugene,\" the AIU stated. They further noted that these federations failed to implement proportional OOC testing during the subsequent World Athletics Championships in Budapest 2023.
Consequently, the AIU board recommended to the World Athletics Council the imposition of stringent testing eligibility conditions for athletes from these nations to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Council has approved these recommendations, mandating that athletes from Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Portugal undergo a minimum of three no-notice OOC tests. Each test will be spaced at least three weeks apart, all to be completed before July 4.
This move underscores the AIU's commitment to maintaining a fair and clean competitive environment as the global sporting community prepares for the upcoming Olympics in Paris.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
