On Friday 21 February 2025, the Luxembourg Anti-Doping Agency (ALAD) published details of its 2024 Activity Report.
In a statement, ALAD reported that 2024 was marked by a strengthened commitment to the fight against doping and the promotion of clean and fair sport in Luxembourg. The agency confirmed it is continuing to carry out targeted controls, intensifying its prevention programme and consolidating its collaborations with national and international stakeholders to guarantee the integrity of sport.
ALAD confirmed that 251 anti-doping tests were carried out in 2024, both at home and abroad. Of these, 119 took place in-competition and 132 were carried out out-of-competition. This included 34 out-of-competition tests, carried out abroad by partner agencies, on Luxembourg athletes at the request of ALAD. As part of these 251 tests, ALAD also ordered 81 blood samples as well as 49 blood samples from the eight athletes who formed part of its athlete biological passport (ABP) programme, thus making it possible to detect any suspicious variations over time. ALAD confirmed it also carried out 29 samples on Luxembourg territory on behalf of foreign anti-doping agencies or international federations.
According to the agency, all of the analyses conducted in 2024 came back negative, but two suspensions were issued for violations of the whereabouts obligations, set out in Article 2.4 of the World Anti-Doping Code and the ALAD Code. ALAD explained that an athlete is subject to a sanction if three no-shows or filing failures accumulate within a twelve-month period. Other violations included nine cases of incorrect whereabouts declarations (filing failure) and eleven absences during attempted tests (no-shows) among athletes in the ALAD Registered Testing Pool (RTP).
Moreover, the agency reported that 2024 saw a major change to the ALAD Code, the 2025 version of which is now available online. To better meet the needs of high-level sport in Luxembourg, the agency has ended the historical equation automatically linking the COSL Elite and/or SSEA Cadre status to inclusion in the ALAD target group. From now on, two separate groups are defined: the target group (RTP), intended for very high-level international athletes subject to reinforced controls, and the control group (TP) offering adapted but regular monitoring to national and future level athletes. ALAD is also expanding its scope to non-licensed athletes participating in events under the aegis of federations affiliated to the Luxembourg Olympic and Sports Committee (COSL), even outside a federal framework. These developments are expected to strengthen ALAD's ability to promote clean and fair sport, adapted to modern realities.
ALAD stated that it organised a total of 57 anti-doping prevention actions in 2024, such as educational workshops with fourteen sports federations, twelve football, volleyball and handball clubs, athletes from the Luxembourg Army's elite sports section (SSEA), as well as new athletes from COSL executives. The Sportlycée was once again a key partner, with sixteen interventions dedicated to different age groups, including two question-and-answer sessions with former Olympic swimmer Raphaël Stacchiotti. ALAD also reported that it carried out prevention actions in schools such as the École Européenne (European school), Lycée Sainte-Sophie, Lycée Nic Biever and Lunex University. The agency was also present at events such as the COSL Spillfest, where it carried out awareness-raising work among the general public.
In collaboration with ALAD, the National Institute of Physical Activity and Sports (INAPS) is said to have played a key role in offering "Sport sans dopage" (Sport without doping) training courses to coaches, with the aim of raising awareness about anti-doping and preventing prohibited practices at all levels of Luxembourg sport. ALAD stated that these initiatives illustrate its commitment to promoting the values of clean and fair sport from a young age.
HOM
