IPC launches anti-doping taskforce ahead of Milano Cortina 2026
The Taskforce, led by the IPC, will apply their expertise to reviewing the level of risk (of doping) for each sport on the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games programme 20 Jun 2025
With the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games less than nine months away, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has established an Anti-Doping Task Force to help ensure a level playing field for Para athletes likely to compete at the Games.
The Taskforce, led by the IPC, will apply their expertise to reviewing the level of risk (of doping) for each sport on the Paralympic Winter Games programme. Taskforce members will then work together to identify athletes for target testing leading up to the Games and issue test recommendations for those athletes to National and Regional Anti-Doping Organisations (ADOs) and International Federations.
In addition to providing test recommendations, the work of the Taskforce aims to raising awareness and understanding amongst ADOs of the risk of doping in Para sport. It also seeks to strengthen cooperation between National and Regional ADOs and National Paralympic Committees (NPCs) - particularly leading into a major Games.
The Taskforce comprises of nine experts representing ADOs from around the globe. They include Alex Bohl (United States Anti-Doping Agency), Dr Elske Schabort (South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport), Ryan Morrow (The Sport Integrity Commission New Zealand), Kevin Wieninger (National Anti-Doping Agency Austria GmbH), Saori Ueda (Japan Anti-Doping Agency), Karim Chtai (German National Anti-Doping Agency), Sofia Jakobsson (Anti-Doping Sweden), Vanda Wallaca-Jones (International Ski and Snowboard Federation) and Linn Gustafsson (International Biathlon Union). The IPC is also seeking a representative to join the Taskforce (ex-officio) to provide the athletes’ perspective.
Jude Ellis, Head of Anti-Doping Programme at the IPC said: “At the heart of our anti-doping efforts is the belief that every Para athlete deserves the opportunity to compete on a level playing field. Through the work of the Taskforce, we’re empowering anti-doping organisations around the world with the knowledge and support they need to uphold the values of clean Para sport and help us ensure a clean Games.
“As we look ahead to Milano Cortina 2026, our priority is to protect the integrity of Para sport and the rights of clean athletes. We will achieve this through working closely with our global partners to help ensure a coordinated testing effort.”
This initiative builds on the success of the IPC’s first Anti-Doping Taskforce launched ahead of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. The Paris 2024 Taskforce issued over 3,000 athlete testing recommendations to 95 ADOs in the lead up to the Games.
As a result of this coordinated effort both leading up to and during the Games, a number of athletes were either prevented from attending the Games or removed from the Games prior to competing, due to positive test results.
During the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games period, more than 2,600 samples (urine and blood) were collected from 1,988 doping control tests. In total, 1,704 athletes from 112 of the 169 participating delegations were tested at least once while in Paris.
The Milano Cortina Anti-Doping Taskforce represents a continuation of the IPC’s commitment to clean sport and the protection of Para athletes’ rights to fair competition.
