Mauro Gabriel Gómez, an Argentinian MMA fighter, has been banned for two years by the International Testing Agency (ITA) for a positive test for furosemide, a prohibited diuretic and masking agent. The sample was collected during the 2024 Pan-American MMA Championships. The ban runs from November 3, 2025, to November 2, 2027. Gómez did not challenge the violation, and his results since July 7, 2024, are disqualified. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) could hear an appeal.

The International Testing Agency (462) announced leadership changes, with Mr. Jacques Antenen appointed as the new Chair, effective January 1, 2026, succeeding Dr. Valérie Fourneyron. The board also welcomed Ingmar de Vos and Prof. Lijuan Mao as new members. The ITA thanked departing members Francesco Ricci Bitti and Prof. Peijie Chen.

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) is implementing a comprehensive anti-doping program for British athletes ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. This includes education for athletes and support staff, targeted testing, and coordination with sporting bodies. The program focuses on 260+ athletes and 140+ staff, covering topics like supplements, whereabouts, and violation reporting. UKAD will deploy doping control officers to the games and has launched a Clean Games Policy until after Los Angeles 2028. This is in partnership with the British Olympic and Paralympic Associations. UKAD is also launching a campaign in December to promote fair play.

The International Testing Agency will manage the anti-doping program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and the International Paralympic Committee for the Paralympics, with WADA's Independent Observer teams monitoring all aspects of the anti-doping programs. WADA announced its observer teams for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will be held from February 6-22 and March 6-15, respectively. The teams will observe testing, sample collection, results management, and laboratory operations. WADA has been working with its partners to ensure athletes are informed and prepared. Education courses for athletes and coaches were launched on its Anti-Doping Education and Learning Platform.

The International Testing Agency (ITA) published a new study mapping the pharmacological effects of prohibited substances to the physiological characteristics of Olympic sports, building on its 2022 research. The study, involving experts in sports pharmacology, analyzed 31 WADA prohibited substance categories and linked them to athletic performance domains. The findings will assist anti-doping organizations in designing more effective testing strategies by identifying sport-specific doping risks and optimizing resource allocation. The ITA aims to improve the effectiveness of detection programs through evidence-based strategies.