In the lead-up to the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, the Biathlon Integrity Unit (BIU) is continuing with its comprehensive anti-doping testing programme. The intelligence led programme includes both in-competition and out-of-competition testing and is designed to ensure a strong and credible testing framework ahead of the Games.

Intelligence led prevention sits at the heart of the BIU’s integrity work. Alongside testing and investigations, the BIU has invested heavily in education, outreach and engagement across the biathlon community. This includes in-person education sessions, athlete and coach briefings, value-based outreach at events, targeted meetings with teams and the delivery of integrity content, including anti-doping and safeguarding through coach education and certification programmes.

By maintaining a strong and visible focus on prevention, the BIU aims to reduce risk across the sport by improving awareness, understanding and decision-making among athletes and support personnel. This preventative approach is a core part of the BIU’s wider integrity strategy and complements its intelligence-led testing and enforcement activities.

In the months preceding the Olympics, close coordination between the BIU and National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs) ensures that all athletes with the potential to qualify for the Games are appropriately covered by testing programmes, avoiding gaps and unnecessary duplication of efforts. This coordination involves regular information sharing on athlete performance trends, selection pathways, competition results and relevant intelligence indicators.

Testing responsibility is determined jointly by the BIU and NADOs using a multi-factor risk assessment. This assessment considers various components, such as, competition level, performance trends, qualification pathways, intelligence indicators and seasonal progression. Through ongoing coordination and agreement, responsibility for individual athletes is reviewed and adjusted as required. This ensures that all athletes with the potential to qualify for the Olympic Winter Games, including emerging athletes and those on qualification margins, are appropriately covered within testing programmes, providing comprehensive and coordinated athlete coverage.

The BIU collected 1332 samples during the summer and autumn training period, as well as throughout the competition season, which began in November. Of these samples, 80% have been collected Out-of-Competition and 20% In-Competition. These figures reflect samples collected directly by the BIU and sit alongside additional testing carried out by National Anti-Doping Organisations as part of the coordinated testing framework.

Since its inception, every sample collected by the BIU has been placed into long-term storage. This allows reanalysis as detection methods improve, acting as a strong deterrent and enabling the identification and sanctioning of athletes who may initially evade detection.

To demonstrate the breadth of monitoring, all athletes currently ranked in the top 30 of the overall World Cup standings have been tested at least three times during the period from 1 May 2025 to 30 January 2026 in Out-of-Competition tests. Further to that, the BIU ensures all athletes competing in World Cup events are generally tested at some point during a season, either In-Competition or Out-of-Competition.

In addition to sample collection, the BIU continues to deploy complementary detection and monitoring measures at events. This includes the targeted use of trained drug detection dogs, in line with established BIU procedures, to support inspections and deter the possession or movement of prohibited substances.

As part of ongoing improvements to its anti-doping and integrity work, the BIU has moved into Phase Two of its Safe Voice analytics project, a technology-led screening tool designed to protect clean athletes and support fair competition.

To date, more than 80 international level athletes have been screened as part of the pilot phase. The field-validated technology analyses responses to a short set of automated yes or no questions to deliver a point-in-time, individualised risk assessment, enabling the BIU to rapidly clear low-risk participants and, in time, will further assist the BIU focus resources where they are most needed.

During the Olympic Winter Games, responsibility for testing lies with the International Olympic Committee, through a programme operated by the International Testing Agency (ITA). In preparation, the BIU has worked closely with the ITA over recent months to support the Games-time testing programme and to align pre-Games testing strategies.

Alongside anti-doping, the BIU continues to integrate safeguarding considerations into its wider integrity monitoring. Intelligence gathered through anti-doping activities, event presence and international cooperation can also assist in identifying safeguarding risks, ensuring that athlete welfare and protection remain central to the BIU’s work in the build up to the Games.