NEW WADA STRATEGIC TESTING EXPERT GROUP REVIEWS LESSONS LEARNED FROM COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO BE READY FOR FUTURE SIMILAR CRISES

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Published on Thursday, 10 September 2020 14:07

Montreal, 9 September 2020 – As the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) continues to provide leadership to the Clean Sport community during the COVID-19 pandemic, a multi-disciplinary testing expert group has been formed to identify lessons that can be learned from this unprecedented time and ensure the global anti-doping community can respond effectively to potential similar public health crises in the future.
 
Restrictions are being lifted in a growing number of countries around the world and, as a result, Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) are resuming their testing programs, following the guidance provided by WADA and the various health authorities. In line with a commitment given on 6 May, WADA has established a 10-person Strategic Testing Expert Group that is, among other activities, collecting and assessing feedback from ADOs on their testing programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said: "WADA and the Clean Sport community's first priority during the coronavirus pandemic has always been the health and safety of athletes, doping control personnel and the general public. This is reflected in the reduction of testing programs in many parts of the world over the past months. However, now that activities are resuming in a growing number of countries, it is encouraging that anti-doping work has intensified quickly with more than 11,000 samples collected in July. Anti-Doping Organizations are to be congratulated for their efforts as they show their commitment to returning to full power while continuing to follow the advice of health authorities.
 
"To understand the impact of the pandemic on global anti-doping programs, WADA has launched a broad review to identify what lessons can be learned and what improvements can be made to the global anti-doping system should similar public health crises arise in the future. While the situation continues to evolve, we remain ready to assist Anti-Doping Organizations in supporting and monitoring their anti-doping programs."

As part of the review, last week, WADA sent a survey to ADOs seeking the latest information on their testing programs, in order to build a global picture.
 
The survey is focused on three main areas:

1. The impact that COVID-19 has had on ADO programs;
2. ADO views on the COVID-19 Guidance for Resuming Testing document issued by WADA on 6 May, which outlines how the anti-doping community can best operate testing programs in this challenging environment in line with globally recommended health and hygiene procedures and the International Standard for Testing and Investigations; and
3. The impact that COVID-19 has had on sample shipment and analysis.

The survey outcomes will assist WADA in identifying ways in which the anti-doping community can continue to adapt and be better prepared for similar situations in the future. This may also include developing temporary rules or amendments to the applicable International Standards or the inclusion of specific procedures within an existing WADA Guideline or other guidance document.
 
The Strategic Testing Expert Group is chaired by Matt Fedoruk from the United States Anti-Doping Agency and is made up of anti-doping professionals with a broad range of scientific, medical, legal and other relevant expertise, including an athlete representative.
 
WADA will continue to publish updates regarding its response to COVID-19 as the situation evolves.

Fair play day

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Published on Monday, 07 September 2020 18:32

Dear Friends,

Today we celebrate world fair play day in sports worldwide.  This is one of the most important lessons our sport can give to our Athletes, coaches and officals.  The fact that we all deserve an equal and unbiased opportunity to excel in life, excel in sport nad be treated equally and transparently.

I ask that you take the enclosed graphic and place it on your social media pages and websites promoting the day.

WAKO and the sport of kickboxing, stands for discipline, respect, fair-play, not just on the field of play, but in our society as well.

I would advise all youths aspiring to athletic fame or a professional career to practice clean living, fair play and good sportsmanship.

By our athletes participating in Kickboxing competition,  with agreed rules helps them to  learn to live by rules, establish the delicate balance between competition and cooperation, between fair play and justice and exploitation and abuse of these for personal gain. It helps them learn to manage the warmth of winning and the hurt of losing; it helps them to believe that there will be another chance to win the next time. Creating resilience and an ability to continue to improv in sport and life.

Happy Fair Play day 2020.  I hope to see you on the sporting field very soon, it can never be soon enough for us, to get back in the arena, doing what we love to do.

Respectfully Yours,

Roy Baker,

President WAKO

REMINDER: WADA STAKEHOLDER PERCEPTIONS SURVEY

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Published on Wednesday, 02 September 2020 17:12

Deadline for Completion: 11 September 2020

Montreal, 2 September 2020

Dear Colleagues,
 
On 2 July 2020, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) published its new Five-Year Strategic Plan (Plan), which lays the foundation for WADA's strategic activity for 2020-2024 as the Agency is 'Leading Anti-Doping in a New Era'. One of the initiatives under the 'Be Visible' priority within the Plan is to 'revitalize WADA's brand to reflect its desired positioning'. For clarity, WADA's brand is the way the Agency presents itself to the world across its various touchpoints/interactions.
 
In the first instance, the Project involves conducting research to determine how WADA is perceived by its stakeholders, what differentiators we possess, expectations for the Agency and the future of anti-doping. 

Today, WADA is reminding you of the 15-minute Stakeholder Perceptions Survey that the Agency sent you on 25 August; and, is asking all those who have yet to complete it to kindly do so by 11 September 2020.
 

Please click here to access the survey.

 
The Survey is being hosted by our research partner, Teneo – a global communications consultancy. It is therefore fully confidential. WADA will not have direct access to the responses/data provided by the participants.
 
We would be grateful if you agreed to take part and share your thoughts on how the Agency can deliver with and for our stakeholders a strengthened WADA and World Anti-Doping Program.
 
We look forward to hearing your views; and, thank you very much in advance for your contribution.
 
Best regards,
World Anti-Doping Agency

WADA REMINDS WORLD ANTI-DOPING CODE SIGNATORIES TO REVISE THEIR ANTI-DOPING RULES FOR 2021

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Published on Tuesday, 25 August 2020 12:18

Montreal, 24 August 2020 

Dear Colleagues,
 
On 13 December 2019, in connection with the launch of its 2021 Code Implementation Support Program (CISP), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced publication, in English, of its 2021 Model Rules for Code Signatories (Model Rules), which are intended to help National Anti-Doping Organizations, International Federations, Major Event Organizations and National Olympic Committees in drafting their new anti-doping rules in line with the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code (Code). These Model Rules have since been made available in French as well.

In order to ensure that anti-doping rules continue to be harmonized worldwide, which is critical to providing athletes with a level playing field, all Code Signatories are required to have drafted and adopted anti-doping rules in line with the 2021 Code by 1 January 2021. Therefore, WADA wishes to remind all Signatories that have not yet done so to take action as soon as possible; and, to send their draft anti-doping rules to . Once received, WADA will verify the rules to ensure that they are in line with the 2021 Code; provide feedback if they are not; and ultimately, approve them before the Signatory starts its internal process of adoption of the rules.

We also wish to remind Code Signatories that WADA is required to address cases where Signatories do not have anti-doping rules in line with the 2021 Code by 1 January 2021 as potential instances of non-compliance.

Should you have any questions or require support, please contact us at .
 
Thank you for your cooperation and best regards,
 
World Anti-Doping Agency