The Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina took place from 6-22 February [Getty Images]For the first time in 28 years, no athlete has been found to have taken a banned substance at an Olympics - at least so far.More than 3,000 samples were collected from almost 2,000 athletes during February's Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina, Italy, and no anti-doping rule violations have been reported.It is the first Winter Games since the 1998 edition in Japanto not have a positive test during the event.In the years following the 2012 London Olympics, 31 medals were withdrawn and another 46 reallocated because of positive doping tests.The McLaren report, commissioned by the World Anti Doping Agency (Wada), later found that Russia was operating a state-sponsored doping programme from 2011 to 2015 - a period spanning the 2012 summer Games and 2014 Winter Olympics.However, just because there have been no positive tests yet does not mean there may not be one in the future.Samples from athletes are kept for 10 years to allow for retrospective testing when new techniques emerge. That means it may be premature to describe these Games as the "cleanest".Increase in pre-Games testing reaps rewardsOne reason for the drop in positive results is a significant increase in testing in the lead up to major events.The International Testing Agency confirmed that 92% of participants were tested at least once in the six months before Milan-Cortina began, with director general Benjamin Cohen describing it as "our most extensive program ever implemented".The pre-Games testing did also find one alleged positive result.Italian biathlete Rebecca Passler was provisionally suspended by her country's anti-doping agency after testing positive for "Letrozole metabolite bis, methanol" on 2 February - just four days before the Games started.Letrozole is a drug used to lower oestrogen levels and is frequently used to treat breast cancer.Passler appealed against the suspension and was cleared to compete in the Games. Wada said the decision was provisional, with a hearing to be established by Italy's anti-doping agency (Nado) at a later date."We used to test athletes only when they reach the Olympic Games. Today, the system is completely different," Cohen told BBC Sport."We monitor the athletes throughout a much longer period - in fact, the most sensitive period, when athletes want to qualify for the Olympics.""This was not done 20 years ago. Now, I think athletes know about this, and I think this is also the reason why we see less and less positive doping control during the Olympics."'We never received our medal on a podium'John Jackson (right) wants to see harsher punishments for dopers [Getty Images]It is hoped pre-Games testing will prevent the cruel situation that Britain's bobsleigh team found themselves in.John Jackson, Bruce Tasker, Stuart Benson and Joel Fearon finished fifth at Sochi 2014 behind two Russian crews, who were later disqualified for doping.Almost six years later, the British crew were awarded their bronze medals at a Team GB ball in 2019.It was a moment that gave Jackson relief, as opposed to elation."Do I feel like an Olympic medallist? I don't know, because we never received our medal on a podium," he told BBC Sport."We missed out on potential extra funding for the sport and on potential sponsorship opportunities."But not only us - there were athletes that possibly had to retire because they didn't hit their funding markers. "It's the bigger picture of the consequences of the wider sport."It's clear that Wada and the ITA have taken great strides but Jackson feels the dopers will always be one step ahead, and there should be greater deterrents if they are to be wiped out altogether."I think they should have a lifetime ban," Jackson added."Great Britain used to have that, and I think that the only way to stop it is to make the consequences a lot more severe than what they are."

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