In a groundbreaking development, Milan-Cortina 2026 has become the first Winter Olympics in 28 years to report no positive doping tests. So far, more than 3,000 samples were collected from nearly 2,000 athletes, with no anti-doping rule violations reported during the Games held in February.

This achievement marks a significant milestone, as it is the first Winter Games without a positive test since the 1998 Nagano Olympics. In contrast, the aftermath of the 2012 London Olympics saw 31 medals stripped and 46 reallocated due to doping violations, highlighting the historical context of this accomplishment.

The McLaren report, commissioned by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA), previously exposed a state-sponsored doping scheme in Russia from 2011 to 2015, affecting both the 2012 Summer and 2014 Winter Olympics. However, officials caution that the absence of positive tests does not guarantee complete integrity, as samples are stored for up to 10 years for potential future testing.

One contributing factor to the decline in positive results is an increase in pre-event testing. The International Testing Agency reported that 92% of athletes were tested at least once in the six months leading up to the Games, described by director general Benjamin Cohen as the “most extensive program ever implemented.”

Nevertheless, the pre-Games testing did yield one alleged positive result: Italian biathlete Rebecca Passler faced provisional suspension after testing positive for a banned substance just days before the event. She was later cleared to compete, with WADA awaiting further hearings from Italy's anti-doping agency.

Cohen emphasized the evolution of testing protocols, stating, "We monitor the athletes throughout a much longer period - in fact, the most sensitive period, when athletes want to qualify for the Olympics," reflecting a significant shift in anti-doping strategies over the past two decades.