With only a few days until the approaching 2024 Paris Olympics summer games, preparations are in the last stages everywhere.
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Ahead of the upcoming Paris Olympics, athletic organizations have indicated that they will increase the frequency of drug testing for track and field competitors from Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, and Portugal due to concerns over their home countries’ inadequate drug prevention measures. This was the message put forth by sports authorities on Monday.
These nations didn’t act despite prior warnings after the 2022 world championships in Eugene, Oregon regarding the need for enhanced testing. The Athletics Integrity Unit has deemed the increased testing by the country as unparalleled. The AIU reported that none of the four countries conducted sufficient random tests on their athletes during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest.
The AIU is recognized for its work in uncovering doping and corruption in Olympic sports. At the 2023 world championships, Ecuador and Peru each won a silver medal, while Brazil secured a bronze—all-in race-walking event. The World Athletics’ governing body is backing the AIU’s view that lower-ranked athletes from these countries must pass three random drug tests.
The test should be passed in the 10 months before July 4 to compete in Paris. The track and field events in Paris are set to begin on August 1. “This Olympic year, we hope to remind all member federations that both the AIU and World Athletics are deeply committed to maintaining a fair competition environment for athletes,” commented AIU chairman David Howman.
Tougher drug screening protocols will be put in place, especially for endurance event athletes—that is, events ranging from 800 meters and above. These tests will also include a blood sample for the athlete’s biological passport and checks for EPO, a hormone that enhances oxygen in the bloodstream and is banned in sports.
The enhanced screening efforts will focus on athletes who are not within the top-10 global ranking in their respective events. The AIU already systematically tests elite athletes, anticipating they are potential medal contenders at significant contests. Monaco investigators are seeking to utilize specific tests to ensure the fairness of the Olympics.
They aim to identify athletes who make unexpected improvements in their performance or excel in a sport with a high level of competition and unpredictability. Finally, the Czech Republic and New Zealand’s national track and field squads also warned about their anti-doping measures post the 2022 world and received commendations on Monday for significantly enhancing their testing procedures.
On July 26, 2024, the Olympic flame will light up Paris, marking the beginning of a grand sports spectacle. Over two weeks, about 10,500 contestants will vie for honors across 329 contests. The Olympics will shine with seasoned champions, and it’s certain new sports heroes will emerge. Wondering who could steal the headlines in Paris? Keep reading for a sneak peek at some athletes to watch.
Simone Biles, a gymnastics icon, has her sights set on enhancing her impressive track record in Paris. Assuming she earns a spot on Team USA, this would be her third Olympic appearance. She became a topic of global conversation during the Tokyo Games in 2021 (originally scheduled for 2020 but postponed due to COVID-19), where she courageously drew attention to athletes’ mental health challenges.
She had to call off several performances due to experiencing “twisties.” Flips and spins can cause gymnasts to lose their sense of up and down. Suni Lee, often in Biles’ shadow, grabbed the spotlight in Tokyo after Biles stepped away from some events. Lee claimed an all-around gold medal, a bronze on the uneven bars, and was part of the USA squad that took home silver in the team competition.
Despite tackling kidney health concerns for two years, Lee aims to be back in competition mode in Paris. Eliud Kipchoge, hailed as the master of marathoning, boasts an impressive record with wins in 15 out of 18 marathons. His resume gleams with two Olympic golds and triumphs in major city marathons, including Chicago, Berlin, and London.
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