International press conference at the German House in Cortina

The International Testing Agency (ITA), the National Anti-Doping Agency Austria GmbH (NADA Austria), Swiss Sport Integrity (SSI) and the National Anti Doping Agency of Germany (NADA Germany) invited journalists on 8 February 2026 to a media briefing followed by a press conference at the German House, with the support of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB).

Dur During the first part of the event, ITA and NADA Germany, together with a doping control officer, gave an insight into the behind-the-scenes workings of the doping control process. They explained the testing procedures, gave an overview of how doping control stations are set up, and shared experiences from testing situations. Journalists had the opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with the doping control officers.

Subsequently, Michael Cepic (NADA Austria), Ernst König (Swiss Sport Integrity), and Lars Mortsiefer (NADA Germany) presented the anti-doping efforts before and during the Olympic Games Milano Cortina. At the heart of the cooperation ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Milano Cortina was the joint campaign “My Clean Path.” Four elite athletes from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland demonstrate that on the road to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, only one thing matters: taking the clean path - without shortcuts. The campaign highlights that participation in the Winter Games is the result of years of hard work, tireless dedication, and an unwavering belief in one’s dream. It also focuses on moments far away from the start line and usually hidden from spectators: the athletes’ clean path to sporting success.

Education efforts were also a key focus of the anti-doping organizations in preparation for the Olympic Games in Milano Cortina. Athletes were educated and informed through workshops, information booths, as well as through special e-learning programs. NADA Austria, Swiss Sport Integrity, and NADA Germany tested their national athletes prior to the Olympic Games. In addition, the international federations and ITA conducted pre-Milano Cortina doping tests on athletes from various international federations. For all samples, the required additional analyses were carried out, Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) data were evaluated, and samples were transferred to long-term storage. ITA has compiled the results of the global pre-Olympic testing program at the following link: https://ita.sport/news/the-ita-concludes-milano-cortina-2026-pre-games-anti-doping-program/

Overview of Testing Figures – NADA Germany

NADA Germany began the pre-Olympic testing program with 570 athletes on the long list and ensured that all of them were included in a registered testing pool. The 185 nominated Olympic participants were tested 503 times. In total NADA Germany took 823 samples (503 urine, 320 blood including serum, ABP and DBS samples).

Recording of the Press Conference on YouTube (only in German): https://www.youtube.com/live/aYdjS1XHe-w?si=tCfyWT3zEsNwXXQq