Elite athletes who intentionally dope are increasingly slipping through the net, according to David Howman, chair of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) and former World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) director general. Speaking at the 2025 World Conference on Doping in Sport in Busan, South Korea, Howman delivered a stark warning: the global anti-doping system has stalled, failing to catch sophisticated cheats at the highest level. This ineffectiveness, he argued, erodes credibility and risks alienating clean athletes. With recent high-profile bans underscoring persistent issues, Howman’s call for reform—better intelligence sharing and proactive “bounty-hunting”—highlights a critical juncture for anti-doping in athletics. As controversies like the Chinese swimmers case and the upcoming Enhanced Games loom, the fight for clean sport faces mounting challenges.
Key Points on the Anti-Doping Crisis
- The system is “stalled”: Intentional elite dopers evade detection, undermining clean competition.
- Recent bans highlight gaps: Athletes like Ruth Chepngetich (three years), Marvin Bracy-Williams (45 months), and Erriyon Knighton (four years) caught, but many more suspected undetected.
- Global fractures: WADA-USADA clashes over China, Kenya on watchlist, Russia non-compliant.
- Solutions proposed: Shift from compliance to ambition—enhanced data sharing, incentives for whistleblowers.
- Credibility at stake: Ineffectiveness risks clean athletes losing faith.
These concerns, raised December 2025, reflect evolving threats in a sport where science aids both sides.
Howman’s Blunt Assessment: A System in Stagnation
David Howman, with 13 years leading WADA (2003-2016) and now overseeing athletics’ AIU, minced no words: “Let’s be honest and pragmatic—the system has stalled. Intentional dopers at elite level are evading detection. We are not effective enough nowadays in catching cheats.” His intervention at the Busan conference emphasized that compliance-focused testing catches “dopey dopers” but misses sophisticated ones.
The AIU, praised for sanctioning 427 elites since 2017, still falls short: “We’re not catching enough of them—significant improvements are necessary.” Howman urged moving “beyond compliance” to “ambitious anti-doping efforts”—collaborative science, data transparency, and proactive pursuits. He proposed “bounty-hunting” incentives, rewarding tip-offs that expose cheats.
This critique resonates amid 2025’s cases, where detection often lags scandals.
High-Profile Bans: Symptoms of Deeper Issues
2025 exposed flaws through marquee sanctions:
- Ruth Chepngetich (Kenya): Women’s marathon world record-holder (2:09:56, Chicago 2024) banned three years (October 2025) for hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a masking diuretic. Initially denied, she admitted violations after phone evidence suggested intent; ban backdated to April 2025.
- Marvin Bracy-Williams (USA): 2022 world 100m silver medallist banned 45 months (November 2025) for testosterone use, tampering, and whereabouts failures. Whistleblower tip triggered investigation; cooperation reduced from potential longer sanction.
- Erriyon Knighton (USA): 200m prodigy banned four years (September 2025) after CAS upheld WADA/World Athletics appeal. Positive for trenbolone metabolite (March 2024); initial no-fault ruling overturned—contamination claim deemed implausible.
These cases—spanning sprints and distance—illustrate detection’s reliance on tips or appeals, not routine testing.
| Notable 2025 Athletics Doping Bans | Athlete | Nationality | Violation | Ban Length | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruth Chepngetich | Kenya | Diuretic (HCTZ) | 3 years | World record-holder; admitted after evidence | |
| Marvin Bracy-Williams | USA | Testosterone + tampering | 45 months | World silver; whistleblower case | |
| Erriyon Knighton | USA | Trenbolone metabolite | 4 years | CAS overturned no-fault ruling |
This table shows bans’ severity, but Howman argues they represent caught exceptions.
Fractured Global Efforts: Scandals and Non-Compliance
Unity erodes amid geopolitical tensions:
- China swimmers: Ongoing fallout from 2021 positives (23 athletes, trimetazidine); WADA accepted contamination, sparking USADA accusations of cover-up. 2025 saw renewed clashes over funding and Enhanced Games.
- Kenya: Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK) on WADA watchlist (since late 2025) after audit failures—spate of positives, including Chepngetich.
- Russia: RUSADA remains non-compliant post-2014 Sochi state-sponsored scheme; data manipulation led to ongoing restrictions.
The Enhanced Games—pro-doping event planned for Las Vegas 2026—further divides, with WADA condemning while some athletes eye participation.
Path Forward: Reinvigorating the Fight for Clean Sport
Howman advocates ambition: “We must support clean athletes by catching dirty ones, especially at the pinnacle.” Proposals include cross-discipline collaboration, advanced science, and incentivized intelligence.
The AIU’s mantra—”right test, right athlete, right time”—drives targeted work, but systemic overhaul needs WADA leadership. As clean athletes bear the burden, credibility hangs in balance.
In athletics’ high-stakes arena, Howman’s warning demands action. Elite cheats thrive in shadows—will anti-doping evolve to illuminate them? The integrity of sport depends on it.
