The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has partnered with Swiss sportswear brand On to expand the World Athletics’ Registered Testing Pool (RTP). This collaboration marks a significant step forward in ensuring cleaner competition, with On becoming the first sponsor to directly fund the inclusion of additional athletes in the RTP.
The initiative, approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), allows sponsors to request the inclusion of their athletes in the RTP, provided they meet performance criteria. Once approved, these athletes will undergo the AIU’s stringent anti-doping protocols, including testing, education, intelligence gathering, and investigations. In 2025, On will fund six additional athletes in the RTP, reinforcing the company’s commitment to integrity in sports.
Since 2019, major sportswear brands such as adidas, ASICS, and Nike have financially supported the Road Running Integrity Programme. However, On’s involvement introduces a new dimension by directly expanding the RTP through third-party funding.
In a press release by AIU, Head Brett Clothier praised the partnership.
“The AIU is delighted to be working with On and views this collaboration as a signal of the company’s commitment to the global anti-doping fight. Third-party funding to expand the testing pool is great news for the sport and clearly demonstrates commitment to integrity.“
On’s Senior Director of Athlete Strategy & Partnership Flavio Calligaris, emphasized the brand’s dedication to clean sport.
“Our investment in this partnership with the AIU marks another cornerstone in our endeavour to partner with athletes holistically, far beyond standard sponsorship,” he said.
“We aim to actively enable more of our athletes to access the rigorous testing and educational resources provided by AIU’s RTP. This proactive step underscores our unwavering commitment to clean sport and ensuring our athletes can compete with the peace of mind they deserve.”
Launched in 2020, the Road Running Integrity Programme faced initial challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic but has since grown into a robust anti-doping framework. In 2023, the programme collected 5,578 samples from 1,455 athletes, and in 2024, testing expanded further with 6,098 samples taken from 1,829 athletes across 89 countries.
The programme receives financial backing from multiple stakeholders, including World Athletics, Abbott World Marathon Majors, elite road races, and athlete representatives. On’s entry further propels the initiative, ensuring that more athletes meet the highest anti-doping standards.
