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

WADA PUBLISHES REDESIGNED, MORE ATHLETE-FRIENDLY, 2021 PROHIBITED LIST

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Published on Friday, 02 October 2020 18:11

TO ALL WAKO MEMBERS

WADA has published the new Prohibited list, which will come into force on 1st January 2021.

Major modifications from the current list are explained in the WADA Newsletter below.
We encourage athletes, coaches, and members of support teams to get familiar with the List.
The members of the WAKO Health, Medical and Anti Doping Committee are available for clarifications, in case of need please contact:

Best regards,
WAKO Administration
www.wako.sport


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Montreal, 30 September 2020 – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) publishes today the 2021 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods (List); the 2021 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes; and the 2021 Monitoring Program. The 2021 List, which has been redesigned in order to improve navigation and usability for athletes and their support personnel, was approved by WADA's Executive Committee (ExCo) during its meeting on 14-15 September 2020 and comes into force on 1 January 2021.
 
The List is one of the International Standards that are mandatory for all Signatories of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code). It designates what substances and methods are prohibited both in- and out-of-competition and which substances are banned in particular sports.
 
WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said: "WADA is pleased to publish the 2021 Prohibited List in its newly designed format; which, we believe, will be easier for athletes and their entourage to navigate. We kindly ask athletes, their entourage and all stakeholders to review the List carefully and to take particular note of this year's modifications to avoid inadvertent use of substances and methods that are prohibited in sport for 2021."

"Every year, the List undergoes extensive consultation involving some of the most qualified experts in the fields of science and medicine, including chemistry, endocrinology, haematology and pharmacology. This helps to ensure that any substance or method that may provide performance enhancement, or that may negatively impact athlete health or the spirit of sport, are considered in a timely manner so as to maintain a level playing field for clean athletes."
 
2021 List Redesign
 
As it relates to the List's redesign, the improvements include:

• A table of contents that provides a non-exhaustive list of examples of medical conditions for which substances in the different classes may be prescribed;
• An introduction that defines some terms used in the List;
• Headings in each class indicating which substances or methods are prohibited at all times or in-competition, which classes are specified versus non-specified, and, where applicable, identification of the substances of abuse within a class;
• Well-defined headings for the classes and sub-classes;
• Exceptions and notes within categories that are now more clearly identified; and
• A new index at the end of the document, listing the substances and methods mentioned in the List.

Major Modifications
 
As it relates to modifications, the major ones are outlined below:

• Substances of abuse: During the two-year review process for the 2021 version of the Code, WADA received considerable stakeholder feedback related to substances of abuse where it was felt that the use of some substances included in the List was often unrelated to sport performance. Accordingly, Article 4.2.3 was added to the Code, and cocaine, diamorphine (heroin), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA/"ecstasy") and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have been identified as substances of abuse in the 2021 List. This means that if an athlete can demonstrate that the use of any of these four substances was out-of-competition and unrelated to sport performance, the suspension imposed will now be three months and may be reduced to one month if the athlete completes a drug rehabilitation program.
   
• Prohibited Method M2.2: Chemical and physical manipulation: In accordance with the newly introduced Article 4.2.2 in the 2021 Code, it will now be possible to identify a prohibited method as "specified". Accordingly, intravenous infusions and/or injections of more than a total of 100 mL per 12-hour period, except for those legitimately received in the course of hospital treatments, surgical procedures or clinical diagnostic investigations, have now been classified as "specified". This means that an athlete may receive a reduced sanction if it can be proven that this method was not used for doping purposes.

Meanwhile, implementation of the following major modification to the List will come into force on 1 January 2022:

• Glucocorticoids: The draft 2021 List, which was considered by WADA's ExCo during its September 2020 meeting, proposed prohibiting all injectable routes of administration of glucocorticoids in-competition. While this modification was approved, the ExCo asked WADA Management to implement the prohibition on 1 January 2022, to allow enough time for broad communication and education of athletes, their entourage and medical personnel so that there is a better understanding of the practical implementation of washout periods to avoid inadvertent Adverse Analytical Findings. It will also allow WADA-accredited laboratories the time to update their procedures to incorporate the revised and substance-specific reporting values; and, for sports authorities to develop educational tools for athletes, and for medical and support personnel to address the safe use of glucocorticoids for clinical purposes within anti-doping.

List Review Process
 
Every year, the List's revision process is led by WADA, beginning with an initial meeting in January and concluding with the publication of the List by 1 October. This is an extensive consultation process that includes WADA's List Expert Group gathering information including the latest scientific and medical research, trends, and intelligence gathered from law enforcement and pharmaceutical companies; circulating a draft List among stakeholders; taking their submissions into consideration and revising the draft, followed by review by the Agency's Health, Medical and Research (HMR) Committee. The HMR Committee then makes its recommendations to the WADA ExCo, which approves the List during its September meeting.
 
For a substance or method to be added to the List, it must be determined that it meets at least two of the following three criteria:

1. It has the potential to enhance or enhances sport performance
2. It represents an actual or potential health risk to the athletes
3. It violates the spirit of sport

The List is released three months ahead of it taking effect so that athletes and their entourage can acquaint themselves with any modifications. Ultimately, athletes are responsible for prohibited substances found in their body and prohibited methods found to have been used. Athlete entourage are also liable for Anti-Doping Rule Violations if determined to be complicit. Consequently, if there is any doubt as to the status of a substance or method, it is important that they contact their respective Anti-Doping Organization (International Federation or National Anti-Doping Organization) for advice.

It should be noted that for athletes who have a legitimate medical reason for using a prohibited substance or method that is on the List, they may be accommodated if they meet the criteria outlined in the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE). The TUE Program is a rigorous and necessary part of elite sport which has overwhelming acceptance from athletes, physicians and anti-doping stakeholders.
 
Upcoming Webinar
 
In order to assist stakeholders in their understanding and implementation of the 2021 List, WADA will host a webinar on 29 October 2020 at 7:00 AM EDT entitled: 2021 Prohibited List and beyond. Participants will be taken through the major modifications; as well as, a few key items under review for 2022 by WADA's List Expert Group. Stakeholders wishing to register for the webinar are invited to do so here.
 
Languages and Formats
 
The 2021 Prohibited List; the 2021 Summary of Modifications and Explanatory Notes; and the 2021 Monitoring Program are available for download on WADA's website in English and French with Spanish to follow in the coming weeks.
 
Stakeholders wishing to translate the List into other languages are kindly asked to signal their interest to , by 30 October 2020. WADA would then provide the necessary files and, once the translation is finalized, would make the List available on the Agency's website.
 
The List's mobile-friendly digital edition will go live on 1 January 2021.

WADA ISSUES REVISED 2021 INTERNATIONAL STANDARD FOR THE PROTECTION OF PRIVACY AND PERSONAL INFORMATION

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Published on Friday, 25 September 2020 10:55

Montreal, 24 September 2020 – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is pleased to publish the revised 2021 International Standard for the Protection of Privacy and Personal Information (ISPPPI), which was approved by WADA's Executive Committee (ExCo) during its 14-15 September 2020 meeting and enters into force on 1 January 2021.

Similar to the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code and other International Standards that enter into force at the same time, the ISPPPI was subject of a three-phase consultation process that resulted in all being approved by the Agency's Foundation Board and ExCo, respectively, during WADA's World Conference on Doping in Sport held in November 2019. Then, on 2 June 2020, WADA launched and communicated a limited supplementary consultation phase for the ISPPPI alone that ended on 2 July.

The revised 2021 ISPPPI contains updates to Articles 4.1, 4.5, 5.3, 11.5 and Annex A. The updates integrate feedback from the 18 comments received during the supplementary consultation phase from six stakeholders, as well as observations from the European Data Protection Board provided to WADA by the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 November 2019.

A full summary of these changes can be found on WADA's website.

WADA thanks all contributors for their valuable feedback.