Russia is back in world sport, but who is drug testing its athletes?

Russia's back in sport, but who drug tests its athletes?

Fresh questions have emerged over Russia 's return to world sport after figures reviewed by DW showed that only four of the 16 Russian weightlifters competing at this year's world championships underwent out-of-competition testing by the International Testing Agency (ITA).

Two-time European champion Anastasiia Romanova, who previously served a two-year doping ban, was among those not tested by the ITA during the first nine months of 2026, according to its quarterly anti-doping reports.

By comparison, all 13 members of the North Korean team underwent at least one ITA test during the same period. North Korea , like Russia, has a history of doping violations in weightlifting.

The ITA, which runs weightlifting's anti-doping program, told DW that it tested all 16 Russian weightlifters "ahead of their participation in the event." DW understands those tests were conducted in Ningbo, China , where the championships are being held.

In a power sport like weightlifting, performance-enhancing drugs are most beneficial during training, when athletes build strength and muscle mass in the months before competition. Some drugs, such as anabolic steroids, may be harder to detect by the time the competition comes around.

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