UKAD completes 8,942 tests in 2025/26 as major summer of sport approaches
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has completed 8,942 tests across the 2025/26 financial year, an increase of 264 on the previous year, as the organisation steps up its efforts ahead of a major summer of sport.
In the final quarter (January to March 2026 / Q4), UKAD conducted 2,382 tests, an increase of 309 on the same period last year, with 76% taking place out-of-competition.
The five most tested sports in Q4 were:
- Football (FA, FAW, SFA, IFA) – 863 tests
- Rugby Union (RFU, SRU & WRU) – 360 tests
- Rugby League – 143 tests
- Athletics – 138 tests
- Cycling – 122 tests
Hamish Coffey, Director of Operations at UKAD, said:
"With a major summer of sport ahead, including the Football World Cup, the Commonwealth Games and European Athletics Championships, both of which take place here in the UK, clean sport is vitally important to athletes and sports fans alike. Building on a strong year of testing, we are determined to go further in protecting the integrity of sport and ensure that when British athletes step out to compete, whether on the world stage or here in the UK, they do so on a level playing field."
Four Adverse Analytical Findings, eighteen confirmed Whereabouts Failures and five Anti-Doping Rule Violations were also reported during January to March 2026.
Notes
UKAD's intelligence-led, risk-based approach to testing is driven by evidence and data, targeting the high-risk moments in an athlete's career, including pre-season, qualification and periods outside of competition, when athletes face the greatest temptation to dope.
View UKAD's Q4 2025/26 Testing Report (PDF)
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