With just a couple of weeks before the World Championships begin in Singapore, World Aquatics has released anti-doping testing statistics, including tests carried out by other organizations and compiled by the World Aquatics Integrity Unit. The data only includes swimmers entered in the meet and excludes those not participating, though unentered swimmers are still subject to testing.
In the press release, World Aquatics wrote, “The anti-doping testing programme, designed and implemented by the International Testing Agency (ITA), encompasses a wide range of tests conducted both in and out-of-competition. In total, 4,018 anti-doping tests have been conducted on athletes participating in the World Aquatics Championships – Singapore 2025 since 1 January 2025, resulting in an average of two tests per athlete.”
The organization also noted that “all newly approved Neutral Athletes have been tested at least four times within the last 12 months, including at least one test conducted by World Aquatics.”
Following the Chinese doping scandal that came to light in April 2024, Chinese swimmers were the most tested athletes this year, averaging 8.8 tests per swimmer compared to the 21 in 2024. Russian athletes are also being tested at similarly high levels, averaging 8.20 tests per athlete. Both countries are tested approximately twice as much as any other nation.
Team USA ranks third in testing frequency with an average of 4.13 tests per athlete, while Australia follows with 4 tests per athlete. These are the only countries with testing averages above 4 tests per swimmer. Team USA ranks third in testing frequency with an average of 4.13 tests per athlete, while Australia follows with 4 tests per athlete. These are the only countries with testing averages above 4 tests per swimmer.
World Aquatics specified that “the testing programme will remain in full force until the end of the event, with 830 samples to be collected during the 24 days of competition.”
Testing Statistics – 10 Largest NOC Swimming Delegations In Singapore
| Nation | Average Tests Per Affiliated Athlete |
| China | 8.80 |
| Russia (Neutral Athletes) | 8.20 |
| United States | 4.13 |
| Australia | 4.00 |
| France | 3.60 |
| Italy | 3.50 |
| Hungary | 3.30 |
| Japan | 2.80 |
| Canada | 2.40 |
| Great Britain | 2.20 |
Wang Haoyu was the most tested Chinese swimmer at 13 tests. Yang Peiqi and 2023 triple breaststroke world champion Qin Haiyang were both tested 12 times, with 1:54 200 freestyler Liu Yaxin being tested on 11 separate occasions.
Other notable Chinese swimmers’ testing numbers include Yu Yiting, who was tested 10 times; 2020 Tokyo 200 fly winner Zhang Yufei, who was tested nine times; 12-year-old phenom Yu Zidi, who was tested eight times; and 2024 100 breaststroke World champion Tang Qianting and reigning 100 free Olympic champion Pan Zhanle, who were both also tested eight times.
In terms of Russian-affiliated athletes, backstroker Alina Gaifutdinova was tested the most at 10 times. Several others were tested nine times, including rising freestyle sprinter Egor Kornev, 2019 50 fly Worlds silver medalist Oleg Kostin, and breaststroke ace Kirill Prigoda. Kliment Kolesnikov was tested eight times, Miron Lifintsev seven times, Evgeniia Chikunova also seven, and Andrei Minakov six.
For Team USA, Gretchen Walsh, Regan Smith, Katie Ledecky, Lilly King, Luke Hobson, Bobby Finke, and Kate Douglass all tied for the most tests with seven.
For the Aussies, Sam Short and Ella Ramsay are tied for the most tests at eight. Their 2024 Olympic champions Kaylee McKeown, Mollie O’Callaghan and Cameron McEvoy were each tested a total of five times, as was 2016 100 free winner Kyle Chalmers.
Canadian superstar Summer McIntosh, a three-time Olympic gold medalist who holds three long course world records, has been tested eight times so far this year. French four-time Olympic champion Leon Marchand, the world record holder in the 400 IM, has been tested five times.
maybe therefore Pan did go from Olympic gold and world record to second reserve to the 100 free final tomorrow in 1 year? 😱
I’m sure top athletes don’t mind being tested. Chinese have to be tested more than others, and we all understand why.
Getting tested SUCCKKSSS. I think they accept that it’s an important part of clean sport, but I think almost all of them hate the process. Just comes with the territory.
Nearly all my knowledge of the topic comes from the Icarus documentary, so I’m probably missing a lot of nuance, but this doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence.
Apparently, the tests are not evenly distributed throughout the year, but mostly happen during competitions, where cheaters would cycle off whatever they are on and test clean anyway unless they really mess up. Even the most-tested athlete here has, on average, roughly two tests per month, but out-of-competition testing would probably less frequent than that. And people are allowed to skip up to two random tests per year with no consequence. Some of the most popular PEDs are rumored to leave the system within hours after being taken.
Considering all that, catching… Read more »
Actually a favor AQIU did by making pubic anti-doping results to swim fans is disclosing a de-facto psych sheet of the Worlds, in which people should locate events specific swimmers will swim in Singapore
That’s how it should be, if there’s evidence or at least rumors of cheating, you should get tested more. Can’t complain about it when you’ve been caught. They do the same to recovering addicts too
So when the athletes from those countries win 🥇, are you going to accept the results or cry foul?
If they test negative then yes of course, Pan Zhale didn’t test positive for Paris and his races were incredible to watch. Nice try tho at a gotcha moment pal
okay, but to be fair, a lot of the people who say what you say DO cry foul when they win.
It didn’t stop swim people and fans from making assumptions.
Obviously, I love how you automatically assume the opposite. Wanting fair and equal competition for everyone isn’t some controversial topic you’re making it out to be
I’m not making it controversial, but its a known fact when certain countries win, accusations fly no matter how many times they were tested
That actually should be the Americans.
Funny how American swimmers are getting away with million TUEs
Source please. Otherwise an unsubstantiated statement.
I’m curious how they determine which athletes to test for America, like why did Hobson get tested more than Huske for example? You’d think if anything the athletes with the most races would get tested the most
Because Hobson broke the 16 years old short course WR and went 1:43 in long course. Any outstanding performances nowadays are “humanly impossible”
So the full results make a distinction between “World Aquatics Test” and “Non World Aquatic Tests”. Summer McIntosh had 7 WA tests and 1 non. I’m assuming that’s in part because athletes are tested after any session where a WR is set. At least I think I’ve read that.
WA looks like it tested most swimmers 0, 3, or 4 times. Only 9 pool swimmers had more than 4 WA tests (non of them from China or the US). Nearly all the Chinese pool swimmers were 4 WA tests. The US pool swimmers seem like that were 0 tests of 3 tests. Mostly split by international experience, though not fully. But the 3 tests athletes tended to have done… Read more »
It says Summer McIntosh has been tested 16 times.. split 8 and 8
It doesn’t say that
It’s on page 5 of the statistics
Just out of curiosity, swimmers taking time off are not tested or not included in this date, let’s use Titmus is as an example. Was she tested and just not included in data for this article, or because she’s not competing, does she not get tested?
Pretty sure you can still get tested as long as you don’t officially retire, the # will go down significantly since you won’t be getting tested from any competition but they might still show up at your door
I’d assume you still get tested if you’re considered “active” regardless of if you compete or not. Cuz that’d be the perfect time to take PEDs if anything
So long as you are in the testing pool and on whereabouts you can be tested at any time and place. If not competing you have statistically less chance of being tested but you are still required to fill in your whereabouts so theoretically it could still happen at any time.
Unless you give notice to WA that you formally retired, you get tested.
Titmus is getting tested.
She’s just not getting ‘in competition’ testing which is probably where most swimmers get tests. They will still be knocking on her door though..