The 2025 programme was guided by a clear philosophy: testing must be comprehensive, targeted, and credible. Over the course of the year, the ITA collected 5,345 samples from 1,786 athletes, with a near-even gender distribution of 51% women and 49% men.
Of these, 4,073 samples were gathered out of competition, while 1,272 were collected during competition. This strong focus on out-of-competition testing is intentional, as doping violations are more likely to occur during training periods, away from the visibility of competition. The approach reflects the ITA’s intelligence-led, risk-based strategy, directing testing efforts where they can have the greatest impact in both deterrence and detection.
The programme also incorporated advanced laboratory methods beyond traditional urine analysis. Techniques such as Dried Blood Spot (DBS) testing, blood steroidal analysis, and endocrine profiling were used throughout the year. These methods broaden the scope of detectable substances and biological anomalies, ensuring the World Aquatics programme remains at the forefront of anti-doping science.
World Aquatics Championships Singapore 2025 – Clean Sport at the Core
The World Aquatics Championships in Singapore served as the centrepiece of the 2025 testing programme. From 1 January 2025 onwards, more than 4,000 anti-doping tests were conducted on participating athletes—averaging two tests per athlete across the entire field.
All approved Neutral Athletes underwent a minimum of four tests in the 12 months leading up to the Championships, with at least one conducted directly by World Aquatics.
During the competition period itself, over 600 tests were carried out.
Innovation: Live Performance Profiling
A major advancement in 2025 was the introduction of a live performance profiling tool, deployed for the first time at a World Aquatics Championships. This system tracked athlete performance data in real time, generating science-based risk scores to flag potential anomalies.
This enabled ITA personnel to make timely, objective, and highly targeted testing decisions during competition.
Looking Ahead
The results of 2025 provide a strong foundation for the future. The combination of extensive testing, a strategic focus on out-of-competition activity, scientific innovation, and transparency establishes a high standard—one that World Aquatics and the AQIU are committed to sustaining and further strengthening.
