Doping practices in international weightlifting: analysis of sanctioned athletes/support personnel from 2008 to 2019 and retesting of samples from the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games

Abstract Background The pervasiveness of doping and findings anti-doping corruption threaten weightlifting’s position at the 2024 Olympic Games. Analysing practices in weightlifters could identify patterns that assist future detection. Methods We analysed publicly available data on sanctioned athletes/support personnel from International Weightlifting Federation between 2008 2019 announced retrospective Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) 2012 Results There were 565 sanctions which 82% related to detection exogenous Anabolic Androgenic Steroid (AAS) metabolites markers indicating endogenous AAS usage. metabolites, usage other substance varied by IWF Continental ( p ≤ 0.05) with Europe (74%, 11%, 15%) Asia (70%, 15%, showing a higher compared Pan America (37%, 30%, 33%) Africa (50%, 17%, 33%). When looking 10 most detected substances, nations highest number (range 17–35) all had least one overrepresented accounted for 38–60% substances. targeted re-analysis samples Games due discovery long-term resulted 61 producing ADRVs. This includes 34 original medallists (9 gold, silver 15 bronze), any sport identified sample re-testing. dehydrochloromethyltestosterone stanozolol 83% substances present 95% these samples. Conclusion Based regional differences practices, weightlifting would benefit testing certain regions continuing investment storage as sensitivity specificity continues improve.