Questions have recently arisen regarding the performance of this agency during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, particularly concerning its handling of the case involving Chinese swimmers who tested positive but were not sanctioned prior to the Games.

The International Testing Agency (ITA), established in 2018 and partially financed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), will oversee anti-doping measures at Paris 2024. Having previously handled these responsibilities at the Tokyo Olympics and the Beijing Winter Games in 2022, the ITA will be stationed in the Olympic Village from 18 July, one week prior to the Games' commencement.

Since mid-April, the ITA has been collaborating with international federations and national anti-doping agencies to coordinate targeted testing at appropriate intervals. "If there are athletes who dope, they will do so before the Games, so this phase is very important," an ITA spokesperson told AFP.

With qualifying events concluding several weeks before the Games, this organization is tasked with monitoring approximately 40,000 athletes, among whom 10,000 will compete in Paris. During the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, they conducted around 6,200 tests on 4,000 athletes, resulting in some positive findings.

The controversy surrounding Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, who tested positive for trimetazidine and received a four-year suspension, created a sensation during the Beijing Winter Games in 2022. Monitoring procedures rely on continuous surveillance, utilising competitions, biological passports (which compile athlete data), and potential whistleblowers who may report suspicious practices.

These measures are particularly prevalent in specific sports like weightlifting and among athletes from countries with corruption issues. Testing may also target individual athletes who show sudden and questionable improvements in performance.

The ITA plans to conduct tests on up to 4,000 of the 10,000 athletes participating in Paris, according to sources. Anti-doping officials are particularly focused on Chinese swimmers, following allegations from investigations by the New York Times and German network ARD, suggesting they may have tested positive before the Tokyo Games.

The French Anti-Doping Agency (AFDL) will deploy approximately 300 officials to collect urine or blood samples during Paris-2024. Around 800 volunteers recruited by the organisers of the Games will assist athletes during doping tests.

In total, approximately 50 anti-doping stations will be set up across the Olympic Village and other Games venues. Athletes not residing in the Olympic Village, such as members of the United States basketball team, must disclose their accommodations and may undergo testing at their hotels.

The recently established Orsay laboratory, situated approximately 24 kilometers south of Paris, will receive and analyse the samples. A notable advancement at this facility, aligning with updated anti-doping standards, is its capability to conduct genetic testing.

According to Beatrice Bourgeois, director of the AFLD, the Paris Games will have a lasting impact on anti-doping efforts. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will be involved in Paris through an observer program. Additionally, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will establish a temporary chamber in Paris to handle any potential legal disputes.