Letter from WAKO Europe Acting Presindent Mr. Istvan Kiraly

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Published on Monday, 21 September 2020 12:52

Dear WAKO Europe Presidents, Coaches, Athletes and officials!

Let me inform you about the events of the WAKO Europe Board in the past few days. I am sure we have all been waiting for a solution to the fate of the Turkish Senior European Championship.

As you all know, we are currently living in the second wave. Sadly, COVID has made every sports activity impossible that would have allowed us to hold the Senior European Championship.

I, as the Acting President of WAKO Europe have been continuously observing your work and I stayed in touch with many of you. I also received a lot of feedback from many of you about the situation in your countries. I also heard about the sad news that the clubs are closing one by one and it was impossible to hold trainings and other than the appropriate social distancing, hygiene and separate trainings, no other movement was possible.

The extent of the damage COVID caused here, in our Kickboxing community does not need to be explained to any of you. Unfortunately, we must all live with this. When I took office as WAKO Europe Acting President after the death of our dear President, Prof. Mr Borislav Pelevic and the subsequent election of Mr Roy Baker to be WAKO IF president, I honestly never imagined that we would happen to find ourselves in the middle of such a situation.

Naturally, as a coach, challenges and fights have been part of my sports life every day. I have fought many battles as a coach, I know what it means to lose and to win as well.

Sadly, we experienced that no matter how strong we are, no matter how well we can hold on, sport has lost in this battle. We have to live with that. However we must never be saddened by it or accept it.

In this incredibly difficult period, I have made it my goal to use my coaching experience and talents as if in a competition when we are facing a stronger opponent and I try to make everyone understand that if we do everything we can, if our preparedness, willpower and knowledge is in the right place, we may lose this battle, but we will win the final one.

As sportsmen, we will always hold our head up high no matter if we won or lost. Dear my Friends, I wish to encourage you that even though COVID has defeated our sport and prevented us from organizing any tournaments this year, and prevented us from coming together and experiencing the wonderful opportunity to see our children succeed with the knowledge they learnt.

Sadly we lost this battle. However, if we are strong and work together, we will definitely win the last battle because a prepared, knowledgeable athlete can only win.

I know what we are like and I know that no matter how tough this year is, we will always be back on our feet in the coming years.

Your power and the power of your athletes, your coaches, your referees and your officials extends beyond a virus and we can all survive this crisis. In a few years, we will look back and remember this as a deep, instructive and sad event and we will work hard to avoid these possibilities so that it can never affect us deeply again.

I wished to tell you this long prologue, because I promised you a result and to present it to you within a limited timeframe. I requested a written resolution from the WAKO Europe Board in which we made our decisions based on your feedback. Most of the countries are unfortunately unable to travel or prepare or both. The majority of our countries are unable to prepare for a competition this year in any way.

Therefore, let me share the decision of the WAKO Europe Board with you. The first important announcement to make is that with the permission of WAKO Europe, we cancelled the Turkish European Championship this year . With your permission and authorization, I conveyed this towards the WAKO IF Board yesterday and let them know about the decision of WAKO Europe.

I have also done a lot of work so that the organizers do not suffer great damage. As I promised you all, I have been contacting the organizers since the last Board meeting. Salim Kayici, the President of the Turkish Federation and Mike Triantafyllou, President of the Greek Federation and Chairman of the Greek Organizing Committee have both demonstrated incredible sportsmanship.

Both of them admitted that everyone has to do something for the other in this situation. I am happy to inform you that I managed to agree with Mike, President of the Greek Federation to postpone his 2022 Championship to 2024 so that Turkey can have the opportunity to organize the Senior European Championship in 2022.

Both presidents have agreed to this decision and so Salim Kayici will not be left without a tournament. I proposed this to the Board and it was voted approved with majority. Therefore, these two agenda items were right after one another. One was to cancel the Turkish European Championship this year and the other was to hold it in 2022 and hold the 2022 Greek European Championship in 2024.

Naturally, this decision went to the WAKO IF Board yesterday. I made my suggestion on the WAKO IF Board meeting and the final decision was the same by the WAKO IF Board.

I ask for your support, your understanding and your assistance. It is great pleasure for me to work with all of you and that so many presidents, coaches, athletes assure me of their support in these difficult times. I still ask you to aid my work with any suggestions or ideas you may have. This is a difficult task for me and I will try to do my best as a person, as a coach and as a leader so that we can make the best out of this situation and to do the best for our sport and our WAKO Family!!

Yours sincerely,

Istvan Kiraly

Acting President - WAKO Europe

Vice President - WAKO

THE COMMITTEE APPROVES REDESIGNED, MORE ATHLETE-FRIENDLY 2021 PROHIBITED LIST

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Published on Wednesday, 16 September 2020 12:24

Montreal, 15 September 2020 – The World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA's) Executive Committee (ExCo) held its third meeting of the year on 14-15 September, during which it received updates on WADA's progress on key priorities and took a number of decisions, including approval of the List of Prohibited Substances and Methods (List) for 2021.
 
WADA is composed of a 38-member Foundation Board (Board), which is the Agency's highest policy-making body, and the 12-person ExCo, to which the Board delegates the management and running of the Agency. The Board and ExCo are composed equally of representatives from the Sports Movement, including athletes, and Governments.
 
The ExCo meeting, which was held virtually due to COVID-19, opened with a moment of silence in memory of former WADA President John Fahey, who passed away on 12 September in Australia at the age of 75. Mr. Fahey served with distinction as President from 2008-13 and will be greatly missed by his colleagues and friends at the Agency.
 
After the meeting, WADA President and Chair of the ExCo Witold Bańka, said: "I am very encouraged by the level of engagement and solidarity that was expressed by Executive Committee members over the past couple of days. Representatives both from Governments and the Sports Movement were united in emphasizing the importance to continue to strengthen WADA and to support it in the delivery of its mission in the service of athletes.
 
"Members of the Executive Committee clearly reiterated their support for the current model of equal partnership between the Governments and Sports Movement that has proven to be successful since WADA was formed 21 years ago. In addition, members expressed their acceptance of the nature and timing of the governance reforms that are being implemented, as well as the way forward for additional reforms to be made in the future.
 
"As we continue to strengthen WADA's governance, the Executive Committee is showing real leadership in ensuring the Agency is equipped to do its job effectively for clean sport around the world."
 
Governance Reforms
 
The ExCo received a progress report on the implementation and timing of WADA's wide-ranging governance reforms, which were approved by the Board in November 2018 and are being introduced according to the agreed schedule.  
 
When the reforms were approved in 2018, the Board indicated that there should be an ongoing review process installed by WADA to monitor the effect of the reforms, as well as to propose additional, appropriate reforms going forward. While the implemented reforms and those in progress are bringing far-reaching improvements to WADA's governance structure, the ExCo has decided to maintain the forward momentum provided by these changes and has agreed to establish an expert Working Group on the Review of WADA Governance Reforms now in order to ensure WADA continues to evolve in line with international best practice.
 
The ExCo agreed that the group would be composed of one independent expert as chairperson, two experts nominated from each of the Sports Movement and the Governments, and one athlete. The composition of this Working Group will be finalized in November this year. Also in November, the Board, which has ultimate authority on governance matters, is scheduled in particular to appoint two independent ExCo members and discuss the ongoing development of a WADA Code of Ethics. As further reforms unfold, there will be broad consultation to allow all stakeholders to contribute to the shape of WADA's governance so as to ensure it remains fit for the future.
 
U.S. ONCDP Report and Rodchenkov Act
 
The ExCo received an update regarding ongoing discussions between WADA and the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) in relation to the possibility of the ONDCP withdrawing its WADA funding unless the Agency agreed to a number of demands related to WADA governance.
 
Mr Bańka said: "It is very important that WADA and the U.S. authorities work together to further strengthen anti-doping and again, I state my willingness to be part of constructive discussions in order to ensure collaboration between the U.S. and the global anti-doping community."
 
There was overwhelming support among ExCo members to maintain the model of equal partnership between the Sports Movement and Governments and, on that basis, for dialogue between WADA and the U.S to be restored.
 
The meeting also received an update on the status of the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act that is currently before the U.S. Senate for consideration. There remain widely held concerns among other governments, the Sports Movement, and other anti-doping stakeholders over the Act's extra-territoriality, its negative unintended consequences and the fact that it was amended specifically to exclude the American professional leagues and college sports, which account for more than half a million athletes within the U.S.
 
COVID-19
 
The ExCo received an update regarding the state of the global anti-doping program during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As restrictions are being lifted in a growing number of countries around the world, more and more Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) are resuming their testing programs, following the guidance provided by WADA and the various government and health authorities.
 
WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said: "Following the initial global slowdown, anti-doping work has intensified quickly in recent weeks with more than 11,000 samples collected in July and in excess of 13,000 in August. The Anti-Doping Organizations are to be commended for their hard work at this difficult time as they seek to return their global testing programs to full power. As announced on 9 September, we have 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. It is important that we build a global picture so that lessons can be learned from this unprecedented time and the global anti-doping community can respond effectively to similar public health crises should they arise in the future."
 
WADA will continue to publish updates regarding its response to COVID-19 as the situation evolves and will formally update the ExCo again at its next meeting in November.
 
Athletes
 
While each Standing Committee Chair reported on the progress achieved in their respective areas of work, WADA's Athlete Committee Chair, Ben Sandford, outlined the work of the Athlete Representation Working Group – a subset of the Athlete Committee – that is looking at ways to further develop athlete representation at WADA, as well as discussions around the concept of an ombudsperson(s) resource for anti-doping and its project that is delivering a series of informational webinars for athletes.
 
WADA's President reported on his initiative to meet regularly with athlete groups, in line with WADA's new five-year Strategic Plan that places athlete engagement at the heart of the organization's activities. Since launching the initiative and despite the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Bańka has managed to hold productive virtual meetings with hundreds of athletes from various athlete commissions worldwide. A key outcome of the exercise will be to establish how to ensure athlete perspectives can best be represented within WADA and how linkages might be improved between these athlete members and their WADA Athlete Committee colleagues, and ultimately all athletes affected by anti-doping.
 
RUSADA
 
The meeting received an update on the current situation with the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA), including the recent dismissal of its Director General, Yuriy Ganus. While RUSADA's appeal of WADA's assertion of non-compliance and related consequences will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in early November, WADA is communicating with the authorities in Russia to ensure it has all of the information needed to assess the latest situation. WADA continues to monitor closely RUSADA's programs and activities, including testing, to ensure its operational independence is maintained, and will continue to provide regular updates to the Agency's independent Compliance Review Committee.
 
2021 Prohibited List and other International Standards
 
The ExCo approved the 2021 List, which will be published before 1 October 2020, and which will come into effect on 1 January 2021. Updated annually, the List designates what substances and methods are prohibited both in and out of competition under the World Anti-Doping Code (Code). Following input from the WADA Athlete Committee, the List has undergone a dynamic redesign that has also made it more user-friendly and easier to navigate for athletes.
 
Beyond approval of the 2021 List, which contains minor changes from the current 2020 List, the ExCo approved the revised International Standard for Laboratories and International Standard for the Protection of Privacy and Personal Information that were subject to public consultation and will also come into force on 1 January 2021.

Research Grants 
 
The ExCo approved funding recommendations for research proposals for WADA's 2020 call for scientific research grants. A total of 19 projects were selected for funding amounting to USD 2,585,833. Details of these projects will be published on WADA's website in the coming months once the individual contracts are signed.
 
Policy for Acceptance of New Code Signatories
 
The ExCo approved a revised policy for the acceptance of new Signatories to the Code, which will be applied by WADA as per Article 23.1.3 of the revised Code when it comes into effect on 1 January 2021. The revision is intended to enable more organizations that are committed to protecting clean athletes, regardless of their status within the Sports Movement, to become Signatories.
 
Social Science Research
 
The ExCo approved the Social Science Research Strategy 2020-24, which was developed by WADA in collaboration with the Social Science Research Review Panel and overseen by the Education Committee. The strategy widens the scope of WADA's social science research activities, moving these beyond a grant program and enhancing the benefits that social science research can bring to the efforts of the anti-doping community to protect clean sport.
 
WADA will publish the new Social Science Research Strategy 2020-24, as well as the other documents approved by the ExCo and mentioned above, in the coming weeks.

WADA MOURNS THE PASSING OF FORMER PRESIDENT, THE HON. JOHN FAHEY AC

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Published on Monday, 14 September 2020 10:39

Montreal, 11 September 2020 – It is with great sadness that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) notes the passing of former President, the Honorable John Fahey AC, who has died in Australia at the age of 75.
 
Mr. Fahey served WADA with distinction as the organization's second President, from 2008-13, having succeeded Richard Pound in the position. During his term, he built a number of key partnerships that have stood the test of time, particularly with the pharmaceutical industry and with law enforcement agencies around the world, including INTERPOL. These partnerships have given WADA an edge when it comes to the identification of new substances that may have a performance-enhancing effect, and with the sharing of intelligence for targeted testing programs and investigations.
 
A lawyer by profession, Mr. Fahey was elected as a member of parliament in New South Wales, Australia, in 1984 and rose to become the State Premier in 1992. On being elected to the National Parliament in 1996, he was immediately appointed to a senior role within the Cabinet as the Federal Minister for Finance and Administration, a position he held until his voluntary retirement from Parliament nearly six years later.
 
A lifelong sports lover, Mr. Fahey chaired the committee responsible for the preparation, submission and presentation of the successful Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games bid. He later chaired the Australian Rugby League Development Board and was patron of the successful club, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, having previously been a rugby league player and coach.
 
He brought that wealth of knowledge and experience in the complex worlds of politics and sport to his role as President of WADA and, as a bridge-builder, he executed the duties of that position with fairness, diplomacy and integrity.
 
Someone with a strong religious faith, Mr. Fahey was Chancellor of the Australian Catholic University from 2014 until his death and, in 2019, he was awarded Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great in recognition of his service to the Catholic Church in Australia.
 
WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said: "John was a marvelous President and an outstanding person. He had very strong values and always acted in the best interests of WADA and clean sport. He felt strongly about making sure that the partnership between all stakeholders worked well for the system and the athletes. He was a true leader, statesman and gentleman, and he will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him and worked with him at WADA.
 
"On behalf of everyone who has served on WADA's Foundation Board and various Committees, as well as management and staff, past and present, I want to pass on our condolences to John's wife, Colleen, their extended family and wide circle of colleagues and friends. May he rest in peace."
 
A moment of silence will be observed at the beginning of the WADA Executive Committee meeting on Monday in honor of Mr. Fahey.

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.