WADA UPDATE REGARDING CHINADA's TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF TESTING DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

Details

Published on Friday, 21 February 2020 12:45

Montreal, 20 February 2020

Dear Colleagues,
[International Federations (IFs) and National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs)]
 
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) wishes to update you regarding the 3 February announcement of the China Anti-Doping Agency's (CHINADA's) temporary suspension of their testing program on mainland China due to the new coronavirus, also known as Covid-19.
 
WADA has been closely monitoring the situation and is in regular contact with CHINADA to maintain the integrity of the anti-doping program in China. To that end, we are pleased to inform you that CHINADA has advised that it will resume testing missions within China this week, on a phased basis. Priority will be given to testing elite level athletes from higher-risk categories and sports.
 
The safety of athletes and sample collection personnel involved in the doping control process within China is a key priority. This needs to be balanced with the importance of ensuring that Chinese athletes remain subject to a rigorous testing program for the duration of the coronavirus situation.
 
While sample collection will resume this week, CHINADA has implemented a supplementary set of doping control guidelines to be followed during this period. These additional guidelines for CHINADA Doping Control Officers (DCOs) are designed as a precaution, to minimize the risk of infection. CHINADA will gradually expand the testing scope based on the progress of China's epidemic prevention and control while also monitoring the whereabouts of Chinese athletes to maintain the integrity of the doping control system.
 
The enhanced DCO guidelines include the following:

• DCOs selected to conduct missions shall be those that have no travel records, no contact with people from affected areas or suspect areas.
• DCOs are required to monitor their health for 14 days and undertake medical screening from a hospital prior to being appointed to missions.
• Each sports training centre will prepare a sterile room to be used for doping control.
• DCOs shall wear a medical protective mask and gloves throughout the whole procedure and change for each athlete tested.
• Athletes and their representatives are also required to wear medical protective equipment.
• CHINADA has set up a 'Doping Control and Epidemic-Prevention Experts Panel', consisting of anti-doping experts and anti-epidemic specialists in clinical medicine. DCOs have been trained in anti-epidemic procedures and shall report to this panel after each testing mission.

CHINADA will shortly make contact with those Anti-Doping Organizations that have the right to collect samples from Chinese athletes in China and, under this strict protocol, is willing to accept missions from those organizations, in addition to those organized by CHINADA under its own program, at the sports training centers where testing will begin. 
 
While testing on mainland China was temporarily suspended, it should be noted that CHINADA had continued to plan and conduct testing on Chinese athletes training and competing outside of China. In January 2020, CHINADA conducted more than 1,200 tests, including 114 urine samples and 80 blood samples from Chinese athletes training abroad. A further 165 urine samples and 113 blood samples are planned to be collected in February across seven countries and nine Olympic sports.
 
For IFs
 
To supplement CHINADA's testing outside China, WADA calls on all IFs to further support this effort by considering testing Chinese athletes that are competing in your international events. In addition, we strongly encourage those IFs that have Chinese athletes in your Registered Testing Pools to monitor their whereabouts closely to ensure that if there are opportunities to test those athletes outside of China, such testing opportunities are seriously considered. For testing on athletes located inside China, please contact CHINADA.
 
For NADOs
 
To supplement CHINADA's testing outside of China, WADA calls on all NADOs to further support this effort by offering your assistance to conduct testing on Chinese athletes that may be training in your country. This can be done by contacting CHINADA or through your own initiative. As a reminder, under the World Anti-Doping Code, your NADO is permitted to test foreign athletes that are training in your country. 
 
WADA thanks you for your collaborative effort and support during this difficult situation and commits to updating you as the situation progresses further.
 
Should you have any queries on this matter, please do not hesitate to contact .
 
Sincerely,
 
World Anti-Doping Agency

WAKO Activity Calendar 2020 -update 28/02/2020

Details

Published on Thursday, 30 January 2020 14:36

Sport should guarentee a healthy environment for sportswomen

Details

Published on Monday, 27 January 2020 17:00

WADA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE APPOINTS NEW STANDING COMMITTEE CHAIRS, RECEIVES UPDATE REGARDING RUSADA COMPLIANCE CASE

Details

Published on Monday, 27 January 2020 16:54

Montreal, 23 January 2020 – Today, the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA's) Executive Committee (ExCo) held an extraordinary meeting that was graciously hosted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland. Welcomed by IOC President Thomas Bach, the 12 members of the ExCo discussed in particular the appointment of five new WADA Standing Committee Chairs, as well as a number of other topics including the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) compliance case, the provisional suspension of the Moscow Laboratory, and consideration of WADA's new Strategic Plan for 2020-24.
 
In his first ExCo meeting as WADA President, Witold Bańka said: "It is very encouraging to see the high level of commitment expressed by the ExCo members around the table today. The Agency is at an important stage, beginning a new era. As we continue to implement major governance reforms and to develop a forward-looking Strategic Plan, I am confident we will face our challenges effectively for the promotion of the values of clean sport and the protection of athletes around the world."
 
Appointments of Standing Committee Chairs
 
With the terms of the Chairs of WADA's five Standing Committees having come to an end on 31 December 2019 (except for the Compliance Review Committee, whose Chair remained in place until this ExCo meeting to ensure continuity of the CRC activities), the ExCo approved the following new Chair appointments with immediate effect:

1. Athlete Committee: Ben Sandford, New Zealand
2. Education Committee: Kady Kanouté Tounkara, Mali
3. Health, Medical and Research Committee: Lars Engebretsen, Norway
4. Finance and Administration Committee: Ser Miang Ng, Singapore
5. Compliance Review Committee (CRC): The Hon. James Wood, Australia

[Biographical information regarding the new Chairs can be found here.]
 
Mr. Bańka said: "WADA welcomes the new Standing Committee Chairs to these important advisory roles within WADA. It is clear that the Agency is acquiring a depth of experience and knowledge in their areas of expertise, including from two former elite athletes, which we and Clean Sport will benefit from significantly. We are grateful for their commitment and look forward to working with them in their new roles."
 
The Standing Committees, which report into the ExCo, act as advisory committees to WADA, providing guidance for the Agency's programs. Before being appointed by the ExCo, all candidates to the positions of Chairs of these committees were subject to a robust and independent process of review and assessment by WADA's inaugural Nominations Committee. The Nominations Committee stemmed from the Agency's governance reforms endorsed by the Board in November 2018.
 
As it relates to the vacant seats on the Standing Committees, the Committee Chairs will now consider the applications for vacant seats in their respective Committees with WADA's President and Director General and propose members for consideration and endorsement by the ExCo via circular vote in February/March 2020.
 
Concerning other governance matters, the Nominations Committee provided recommendations to the ExCo with respect to the profiles expected for the two independent members that will join the ExCo later this year, with the objective of complementing the existing characteristics and skills of the current members. Candidates for these two seats will be nominated respectively by Governments and the Sport Movement, vetted by the Nominations Committee, and ultimately appointed by the Board at its meeting in May.
 
RUSADA Compliance
 
The ExCo members received an update on the compliance case against RUSADA from the outgoing Chair of the CRC, Jonathan Taylor. As communicated on 9 January, WADA filed a formal request for arbitration with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to resolve the dispute. From then, third parties had 10 days to apply to intervene in the matter, under the terms of Article 23.5.7 of the World Anti-Doping Code. The process is now in the hands of CAS and once a panel is nominated and issues timelines, WADA will file a full brief without delay, in accordance with the rules.
 
The ExCo was also updated on the Chair's decision, announced on 22 January, to provisionally suspend the WADA-approved status of the Moscow Laboratory, pending formal disciplinary action. This provisional suspension prohibits the Moscow Laboratory from carrying out any work related to the analysis of blood samples in connection with the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) program.
 
WADA's 2020-24 Strategic Plan
 
In addition, the ExCo was updated on the development of a new WADA Strategic Plan for 2020-24 and provided feedback to WADA Management with the objective of submitting this plan for approval by the Board at its meeting in May. The plan will form the basis of WADA's strategic activities over the next five years as it continues to lead a collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport