IOC Figures Estimate Anti-Doping Costs Of $300M Each Year

Figures compiled by the IOC claim the "total sporting spending on anti-doping" amounts to $300M each year, according to Nick Butler of INSIDE THE GAMES. The statistics, released during an IOC exec board meeting, are "part of an attempt to show how the sports world does more to support the drugs testing effort" than simply fund 50% of the WADA budget. Total testing figures by all int'l and national federations were included. It was "made clear that the IOC's statistics are an approximate estimate rather than an absolute calculation." Under the formula used, it was "estimated that each individual test costs an average of $400." Anti-doping education projects were forecast at 20% of the testing figure while research costs of $10M were also included (INSIDE THE GAMES, 3/16).