In 2024, the athletics world continued an uphill battle against doping, as it seems the testing is always one step behind it, despite many efforts made by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) and other organizations.
The year saw pre-Olympic testing ramped up, high-profile bans, and increased positives from nations like Kenya, India, and Russia.
The AIU’s Global Ineligibility List: 481 and Counting
By the end of 2024, the AIU reported 481 athletes and support personnel on its ineligibility list. This global list represented individuals who received bans from athletics for violating anti-doping regulations. Kenya, India, and Russia topped the charts as the countries with the most offenders.
Kenya alone accounted for a significant portion of the list, 119 of the 481 athletes, or 24.74%, to be exact.
Here is the full list of bans per country:
- Kenya – 119
- India – 108
- Russia – 73
- China – 26
- Turkey – 20
- Italy – 18
- South Africa – 18
- Ukraine – 17
- United States – 16
- Morocco – 15
- Ethiopia – 14
- France – 11
- Belarus – 10
- Kuwait – 10
- Nigeria – 10
For years, African countries like Kenya have been at the heart of endurance running, producing some of the most extraordinary talents the world has ever seen. Their runners have dominated global competitions, setting a standard of excellence that no other region has come close to matching.
In the last 10 World Athletics Championships, African athletes have taken home nearly 200 medals, roughly 13% of the total. These runners were once celebrated as the epitome of clean talent. Their success is often credited to the unique combination of high-altitude environment, culture, and upbringing that shaped them.
But in recent years, that legacy has been overshadowed by a growing number of doping cases involving African athletes. This surge in scandals raised tough questions about corruption within governing bodies, athlete management, and even healthcare systems. Many experts believe the root cause lies in the harsh realities of poverty and the intense pressure to succeed, which can push athletes toward dangerous shortcuts.
Despite government investment of $25 million over five years to combat doping, the problem persisted in 2024. Forty-four Kenyan athletes tested positive in February 2024 alone, including notable names in cross-country and marathon running. Efforts to address the issue included stricter penalties and collaboration between the AIU and local Kenyan agencies. However, systemic issues, such as the influence of unscrupulous agents and a lack of education among athletes, continued to fuel violations.
High-Profile Bans: 2024’s Most Notable Cases
The year wasn’t without its share of headline-grabbing doping cases, as several high-profile athletes were handed bans for violations.
Titus Ekiru, once one of the fastest marathon runners in the world, received a 10-year ban for testing positive twice and attempting to tamper with evidence. His case is just one of many and shows the lengths some athletes would go to evade detection.
Emmaculate Anyango Achol, the Kenyan cross-country star, was provisionally suspended after testing positive for testosterone and EPO. Her case remains under investigation, but if found guilty, she could face a four-year ban.
Global Trends in Doping: A 15% Spike
The doping problem wasn’t confined to athletics alone. Across all sports, 2024 saw a 15% increase in reported doping cases compared to the previous year. Factors contributing to this rise included better detection methods, such as the adoption of advanced biomarker tracking and retrospective testing, increased testing frequency in the lead-up to major events like the Paris Olympics, and growing pressure on athletes to perform at elite levels, which sometimes led them to take shortcuts. This upward trend underscores the ongoing challenges faced by anti-doping organizations worldwide.
Why Doping Persists: A Complex Issue
The persistence of doping in athletics can be attributed to several factors.
Pressure to Perform: For many athletes, especially those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, the prospect of fame and financial rewards outweighs the risks of getting caught.
Access and Sophistication of Substances: Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) are becoming increasingly sophisticated, making them harder to detect.
Insufficient Deterrents: In some cases, the penalties for doping are seen as insufficient compared to the potential benefits.
Influence of Coaches and Agents: Rogue agents and coaches play a significant role in pushing athletes toward PEDs, often prioritizing short-term gains and financial rewards over long-term consequences.
Looking Ahead: What Needs to Be Done?
While 2024 highlighted significant progress in anti-doping efforts, the road ahead remains long. Key steps for the future include stronger collaboration between governments, international federations, and national anti-doping agencies to address systemic issues, increased funding for anti-doping research and education, particularly in regions with high doping prevalence, continued investment in biomarker tracking and artificial intelligence to make it harder for offenders to escape detection, and a cultural shift among athletes, agents, and coaches to promote clean sport.
Doping statistics in 2024 paint a mixed picture for the future of athletics. On the one hand, organizations like the AIU have made commendable strides in detection and deterrence. On the other hand, the rise in doping cases highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining the integrity of the sport. As the athletics world moves into 2025, the fight against doping remains a collective responsibility. Athletes, coaches, and administrators must work together to ensure that the sport remains a symbol of human excellence and fair play.
