Cleaning up its act: North Korea’s drive to boost anti-doping transparency



Analysis Cleaning up its act: North Korea’s drive to boost anti-doping transparency With new anti-doping site, DPRK seeks to revamp image alongside efforts to showcase sporting prowess on the world stage Shreyas Reddy February 25, 2025 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON North Korean weightlifter Kim Un Guk in 2014, a year before he tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug \| Image: Rodong Sinmun (Sept. 22, 2014) The quest for sporting glory is a central but often overlooked aspect of North Korea’s efforts to portray itself as a global power. But in its efforts to rise to the top, the nation has often suffered humiliation on the world stage due to high-profile doping scandals. Despite being a signatory to several anti-doping frameworks, the DPRK has repeatedly been banned from global bodies and major sporting events over its failures to adhere to international norms, highlighting persistent gaps in its dope-testing mechanisms and a lack of transparency. The quest for sporting glory is a central but often overlooked aspect of North Korea’s efforts to portray itself as a global power. But in its efforts to rise to the top, the nation has often suffered humiliation on the world stage due to high-profile doping scandals. Despite being a signatory to several anti-doping frameworks, the DPRK has repeatedly been banned from global bodies and major sporting events over its failures to adhere to international norms, highlighting persistent gaps in its dope-testing mechanisms and a lack of transparency. Try unlimited access Only $1 for four weeks Unlimited access to all of NK News: reporting, investigations, analysis Year-one discount if you continue past $1 trial period The NK News Daily Update, an email newsletter to keep you in the loop Searchable archive of all content, photo galleries, special columns Contact NK News reporters with tips or requests for reporting Get unlimited access to all NK News content, including original reporting, investigations, and analyses by our team of DPRK experts. Subscribe now All major cards accepted. No commitments – you can cancel any time. © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by And how should we address you in correspondence? One more step! Please check your inbox, for an email we just sent you, and click on the confirmation message in it to get subscribed to our Daily News Update. Trending

Analysis

Cleaning up its act: North Korea’s drive to boost anti-doping transparency

With new anti-doping site, DPRK seeks to revamp image alongside efforts to showcase sporting prowess on the world stage

Shreyas Reddy February 25, 2025

Cleaning up its act: North Korea’s drive to boost anti-doping transparency

North Korean weightlifter Kim Un Guk in 2014, a year before he tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug | Image: Rodong Sinmun (Sept. 22, 2014)

The quest for sporting glory is a central but often overlooked aspect of North Korea’s efforts to portray itself as a global power. But in its efforts to rise to the top, the nation has often suffered humiliation on the world stage due to high-profile doping scandals.

Despite being a signatory to several anti-doping frameworks, the DPRK has repeatedly been banned from global bodies and major sporting events over its failures to adhere to international norms, highlighting persistent gaps in its dope-testing mechanisms and a lack of transparency.

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Cleaning up its act: North Korea’s drive to boost anti-doping transparency

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