Drugs in Sport: Wada fears rise in doping

The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) believes new research expected before the London Olympics could suggest that as many as one in 10 athletes at international level may be involved in doping. David Howman, the Wada director-general, said that annual drug-testing statistics suggest 1-2 per cent of athletes who are tested are cheating.

However, initial findings from forthcoming Wada-supported research indicated that "those numbers are more in the double digits", said Howman, stressing it does not mean that 10 per cent of future Olympians might be cheating.