WADA PUBLISHES UPDATED THERAPEUTIC USE EXEMPTION APPLICATION FORM IN SUPPORT OF THE 2021 INTERNATIONAL STANDARD FOR THERAPEUTIC USE EXEMPTIONS

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Published on Wednesday, 09 December 2020 17:56

Montreal, 8 December 2020

Dear Colleagues,
 
Today, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) publishes an updated template of the Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) Application Form to support Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) in their implementation of the 2021 International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE), which comes into force on 1 January 2021. The French and Spanish versions will be published on WADA's website in the coming weeks. 

The updated TUE Application Form has been improved to assist athletes and their physicians with the TUE application process – including detailing the diagnoses and reasons behind the request for a TUE.

The Form may be modified by ADOs to include additional requests for information; however, no sections or items may be removed, including the new TUE Privacy notice. Similarly, ADOs may translate the Form into other languages; although, the existing English or French text must be retained. 

Should you have any questions regarding the Form, please feel free to contact WADA's Medical Department at: .

Best regards,

World Anti-Doping Agency

Fruitful meeting held between WAKO Europe and EUSA

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Published on Wednesday, 25 November 2020 11:02

An online meeting between the WAKO European Kickboxing Federation and the Sports Department of the European University Sports Association was held on Tuesday, November 24, as the two partner organisations discussed their respective activities.

WAKO Europe and EUSA have been official partners since 2017, when a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two organisations on this very day, November 25, three years ago.

The virtual meeting allowed both EUSA and WAKO Europe to inform each other on their activities as well as future plans, ensuring each organisation was up to date with their partner’s events.

Present in the meeting on behalf of EUSA was Sports Manager Mr Besim Aliti and Sports Assistant Ms Lea Medvesek; WAKO Europe Secretary General Mr Srdjan Bugarcic as well as WAKO Technical Director and EUSA’s Technical Delegate for Kickboxing, Mr Romeo Desa.

Following introductions from both federations, EUSA’s upcoming programme was discussed, following which an update was given regarding the fifth edition of the European Universities Games taking place in Belgrade, Serbia in July next year, where Kickboxing will feature as one of the official sports at the Games for the very first time.

The very first European Universities Kickboxing Championship took place in Zagreb, Croatia in 2019, with an impressive 237 participants from 101 different universities taking part in the maiden EUSA Kickboxing competition.

Upcoming milestones were then discussed, as dates for inspection visits, confirmation of venues and further meetings were agreed upon, after which the topic of conversation revolved around the current global COVID-19 pandemic, with possible adaptions and solutions to future events considered.

Both organisations will continually support and engage with each other in future events and activities while promoting Kickboxing among students in Europe, especially considering that registrations for next year’s Kickboxing competition at the European Universities Games are currently open.

Interested participants should contact their National University Sport Association, or visit www.eug2021.eu.

WADA PUBLISHES GUIDE TO STRENGTHENING NATIONAL ANTI-DOPING ORGANIZATIONS' OPERATIONAL INDEPENDENCE

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Published on Tuesday, 10 November 2020 15:31

Montreal, 9 November 2020

Dear Colleagues,

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published a Guide for the Operational Independence of National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) that will support them in strengthening and reinforcing their operational independence as required by the revised World Anti-Doping Code (Code) that was approved in November 2019 and comes into force on 1 January 2021.
 
Following an exhaustive consultation process, Article 20.5.1 of the 2021 Code will ensure that NADOs are independent from sport and government in their operational decisions and activities by prohibiting any operational involvement by anyone who is at the same time involved in the management or operations of any International Federation, National Federation, Major Event Organization, National Olympic Committee, National Paralympic Committee, or Government department with responsibility for sport or anti-doping.
 
WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said: "Operational independence is crucial for NADOs as they seek to deliver anti-doping programs without undue influence from governments or sports. Bringing this requirement under the terms of the World Anti-Doping Code makes this independence a condition of their ongoing compliance. Just as WADA is operationally independent from both those stakeholders, so must be Anti-Doping Organizations at the national level, in accordance with international best practice. I would like to thank NADOs for their overwhelming support on this issue and, through this Guide, we are delighted to be able to support them as they deliver on the strengthened provision."
 
WADA Director, Program Development and NADO/RADO Relations, Tom May said: "The majority of NADOs operate independently from Governments and sport. However, in a situation where a NADO's operational independence is not evident or is being threatened, we now have the tools to follow up and ensure this independence is protected. This Guide provides clear direction regarding these requirements to the anti-doping community and we look forward to working with NADOs on implementing these principles."
 
Responding to a number of requests from NADOs, this Guide outlines the regulatory and practical measures that should be in place to ensure they can comply with the 2021 Code when it comes into force. The Guide is made up of two parts. Part one sets out mandatory provisions that are found in the Code and that will be monitored by WADA for the purposes of compliance. Part two sets out recommended aspects that NADOs are encouraged to adopt as best practice, providing examples of how these measures can best be implemented.
 
During the drafting process, the Guide was shared with WADA's NADO Advisory Group, representatives of the Monitoring Group of the Anti-Doping Convention of the Council of Europe, as well as three Regional Anti-Doping Organizations for review. Feedback received was incorporated into the final version of the document, which was presented to the independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC) at its meeting in early October. The CRC welcomed the development of the Guide and supported WADA's efforts in clarifying the requirements of NADO operational independence to its stakeholders.
 
In addition to this Guide, WADA will provide assistance and develop practical tools to support NADOs in enhancing their operational independence. This includes a comprehensive webinar on the topic, which is scheduled for December.
 
For further information on the Guide, please contact WADA at WADAProgramDevelopment@wada-ama.org.

Best regards,
 
World Anti-Doping Agency

INVESTIGATIONS, SUBSTANCES OF ABUSE AND RESEARCH ON DOPING PREVALENCE AMONG THE THEMES OF WADA NOVEMBER 'LIVE' WEBINARS

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Published on Wednesday, 21 October 2020 16:31

Montreal, 20 October 2020

Dear Colleagues,

Today, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) publishes the Agency's 'live' webinar schedule for November, which encompasses webinars being offered as part of the following previously announced series:

• A series that is part of WADA's 2021 Code Implementation Support Program (CISP), which was launched on 4 May; and
• A series that is being offered in place of some of the sessions that would have otherwise been delivered during the Agency's Annual Symposium, which was due to be held in March 2020 but was cancelled due to COVID-19.

The webinars are being hosted in English: 
 

 
We also take the opportunity below to remind stakeholders of the remaining webinars to be held in October, which are to be held in English unless otherwise noted:
 

 
To register for any or all of the above webinars, please simply view the registration instructions in the 'Registration Link' sections of the above tables.

Every mid-month, WADA communicates its live webinar schedule for the following month, prompting stakeholders to register and participate.

Should you have any questions regarding the above, please contact WADA at: selva.balasingam@wada-ama.org.

Best regards,

World Anti-Doping Agency