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

WADA ATHLETE OUTREACH PROGRAM IN ACTION AT LAUSANNE 2020 YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES

Details

Published on Tuesday, 14 January 2020 11:57

Montreal, 9 January 2020 – As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting young athletes around the world and protecting clean sport, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is deploying its Athlete Outreach (AO) program at the Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG), which are running from 9-22 January 2020 and will involve approximately 1,880 athletes (15-18 years old) from 79 countries.

WADA's AO team, which is staffed with anti-doping experts from WADA, the International Testing Agency (ITA) and various International Federations, is already on the ground and will be active throughout the YOG in the athletes' villages both in Lausanne and St. Moritz as part of the International Olympic Committee's (IOC's) 'Learn and Share Program'. The aim of the team is to build awareness among young athletes, their support personnel and others as to the reasons for competing clean and the dangers and consequences of doping; in addition to, athletes' rights and responsibilities under the World Anti-Doping Code.

WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said: "WADA is thrilled to have an outreach team in action at the Youth Olympic Games, as has been the case since the creation of this event in 2010. The young athletes participating in these Games are the very best in their field and many will be part of the next generation of Olympians. It is vital that we reach these athletes as early as possible to reinforce clean sport values in them and help them to understand the importance of 'Playing True' if we want them to contribute to building a level playing field for the years to come."

Visitors to the AO booth are encouraged to complete the Play True Quiz, which is now available in 43 languages, to sign a pledge explaining why they 'Play True', and to share their experience on social media using the hashtag #PlayTrue. Athletes who take part in WADA's Outreach activities will be rewarded with a winter neck buff that highlights a unique design prepared exclusively for the 2020 YOG.

WADA notified of RUSADA’s dispute of Agency’s ExCo decision

Details

Published on Monday, 30 December 2019 17:32

WADA RECEIVES NOTICE OF RUSADA'S DISPUTE OF AGENCY'S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DECISION

Montreal, 27 December 2019 – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirms that, today, it received official notice from the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) disputing the unanimous endorsement by WADA's Executive Committee on 9 December of the recommendation made by the independent Compliance Review Committee that RUSADA be declared non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) for a period of four years, with a range of consequences attached.
 
As RUSADA's notice was received within the stipulated 21 days, the matter will be referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in accordance with the correct process outlined in the International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS, Article 10.4.1).
 
As per the ISCCS, WADA will shortly file a formal notice of dispute with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and the dispute will be resolved by the CAS Ordinary Arbitration Division.
 
As third parties may intervene or apply to intervene as set out in Article 23.5.7 of the Code within 10 days of WADA's filing, WADA will make another public announcement immediately after filing its notice of dispute to CAS.
 
Further to Article 23.5.9 of the Code, any CAS decision in relation to the non-compliance, the proposed consequences and/or the proposed reinstatement conditions will be binding and must be recognized and enforced by all Signatories.
 
WADA President Sir Craig Reedie said: "WADA remains convinced that it made the right decision on 9 December. The proposed consequences are tough on the Russian authorities while robustly protecting the integrity of clean sport around the world. We will defend that decision with the utmost vigor at CAS."

Merry Christmas

Details

Published on Tuesday, 24 December 2019 18:26

Dear WAKO friends,

For those that celebrate Christmas I wish Merry Christmas. I hope you will celebrate it with your family and beloved ones.

For those that don’t celebrate Christmas I wish you all happiness and love for you and your families.

I wish you all very Happy New Year.


Mr. Istvan Kiraly
WAKO Europe Acting President