“Dopers at the elite level are evading detection,” declares AIU Chair, David Howman

There exists a not-so-quiet whisper campaign amongst the athletics fandom that there may be protectionism at the top rung in the sport of doping. It is not uncommon to hear people wonder out loud, “Why is it that most of the very best athletes are not getting popped for doping?”

And at the same time, many dopers are indeed testing positive. Even athletes who would otherwise not be on the radar of fans and organizers, for example, Patricia Alvarez of Spain, who, it was announced earlier this week, by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) will serve a doping suspension. As Canadian Running Magazine noted in its headline, “Spanish hobby jogger suspended for doping….”

Her best is a half-marathon at 1:21:20. She is nineteen minutes slower than the world record holder, Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia and 13 to 17 minutes slower than many of the world-class athletes over the distance.

The occasional elite athlete tests positive and serves a ban, including marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya, who clocked a ridiculous 2:09:56 in 2024. She tested positive for a masking agent. But she is the exception.

During last week’s 2025 World Conference on Doping in Sport in Busan, Korea, AIU Chair David Howman declared the global anti-doping system has “stalled.”

“Let’s be honest and pragmatic…intentional dopers at the elite level are evading detection. We are not effective enough nowadays in catching cheats. We have great education programs which help, but they don’t impact the intentional rule-breakers in elite sport.”

“Our ineffectiveness in dealing with those who are beating the rules is hurting the anti-doping movement’s credibility, with the resulting risk that our clean-sport message falls on deaf ears,” he said, delivering the AIU’s Intervention.

He conceded that even the AIU, despite priding itself on its “demonstrated ability to catch elite athletes who are cheating, (is) not catching enough of them and significant improvements are necessary.”

Howman, who served as Director General of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for 13 years, urged the anti-doping community to “move beyond compliance to a system that supports effective, ambitious anti-doping efforts.” 

Querying if there can be collaboration across sporting disciplines to unearth the best science, best data, and best testing, he suggested Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) be supported with the best investigative and scientific tools – and incentivized to succeed – while also being properly motivated to pursue anti-doping excellence. 

“A renewed focus on scientific research with closer alignment between WADA and cutting-edge ADOs on research priorities and opportunities would be beneficial. The International Standards might be better scrutinized regularly to ensure they fully support investigative efforts to uncover doping,” elaborated the AIU Chair.

Championing anti-doping excellence rather than compliance-based testing, Howman asserted the latter holds little hope of “catching sophisticated dopers. He called for “greater transparency on anti-doping data” and proactivity by WADA in “promoting the pursuit of anti-doping excellence.”

While evasion is one thing, to ask for greater transparency on anti-doping data suggests that there is indeed protectionism or avoidance at some levels. The AIU is an independent anti-doping organization that was created by the World Anti-Doping Agency, which is under scrutiny for allowing 23 Chinese swimmers to avoid suspension.

In closing, he cited the AlU’s mantra – ‘the right test, the right athlete, the right time’ – and stressed the organization’s adherence to intelligence-led, targeted anti-doping work. 

“We recommend this approach and are happy to knowledge-share,” he said, adding, “We all want a cleaner sports landscape”. 

“We must all do better to support our clean athletes by catching the dirty ones, especially those at the pinnacle of sport.

“Let’s resolve to strengthen our anti-doping system as we strive for cleaner, fairer and more credible sport!”

Meanwhile, the organization currently feuding with WADA, the United States Anti-Doping Agency, appears handcuffed with what to do about the Enhanced Games taking place in the spring of 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Enhanced Games may be a circus freak show, and where better to host such an event but in Vegas, where money, performers and dopers go to see their end.