On 19 July 2026, the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) cautioned the Thai athletes to be vigilant about banned substances ahead of the 20th Asian Games. The authority continues to provide ongoing training and guidance to sports associations and athletes, advising preventive measures from the outset rather than corrective actions later. They also invited Thai fans to support the games primarily through live broadcasts on T SPORTS 7 and other partner channels.
Recent updates on the Thai national team preparing for the 20th Asian Games, scheduled from 19 September to 4 October 2026 in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, include warnings from the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) for athletes to be cautious about banned substances before competing. Ongoing educational training is being provided to sports associations and athletes.
Dr. Kongsak Yodmanee, governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand, stated that this year the SAT has continuously conducted educational sessions about banned substances for all sports associations and athletes prior to their participation in various sports events. The focus is on prevention rather than remediation, as this issue is critically important on the international sports stage. He stressed the importance of early preventive measures.
The SAT governor added that for this Asian Games, he believes the Thai athletes will not face problems related to banned substances because all parties have prepared stringent preventive measures. Particular attention is given to unintentional technical errors, such as accidental ingestion of food or medication. He believes no athlete intends to violate the rules.
"The Sports Authority has emphasized that athletes must be cautious about banned substances because this is a crucial issue. The SAT has been providing ongoing training and information dissemination. All procedures comply with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which can send officials to conduct random doping tests at any time," he said.
Dr. Kongsak concluded by confirming that Thai people will be able to watch the 20th Asian Games live for free, primarily on T SPORTS 7, along with other partner channels that will also broadcast the events. The SAT invites Thai sports fans to follow closely and support the Thai athletes throughout the competition with live coverage and cheering opportunities.