WADA STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION DURING SEVENTH UNESCO CONFERENCE OF PARTIES

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Published on Thursday, 31 October 2019 20:16

Paris, 30 October 2019 – The World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA's) incoming President, Witold Banka, and WADA's Director General, Olivier Niggli [pictured], were in Paris, France, this week to take part in the seventh UNESCO Conference of Parties (Conference) that is being held from 29-31 October. The Conference, which is a statutory session that takes place on a bi-annual basis, addresses issues regarding the implementation of the International Convention against Doping in Sport (the Convention) and other anti-doping matters.

The Convention, which was adopted in 2005, is the legal instrument through which Governments formalize their commitment to the World Anti-Doping Code (Code). With 188 States that have endorsed it, representing more than 99% of the global population, the Convention is the second most successful in UNESCO history in terms of the extent of ratification post-adoption.
 
Education, expanding the global legislative framework and strengthening the anti-doping movement's ties with law enforcement agencies around the world will be key ways in which the battle to protect clean sport will succeed, said Witold Banka in his speech.
 
"More and more, education is being identified as a priority in the protection of clean sport. The children of today will be the athletes, coaches, parents, teachers, doctors, anti-doping practitioners and Government ministers of tomorrow. We must expose them now to the values that will positively shape sport in the decades ahead. This is the foundation, not only for ethical sporting behavior but also for character development and good citizenship. We have a duty to help our young people learn this through values-based education programs," he said.
 
"For me, it's all about preserving, promoting and protecting. Together we can work to preserve the spirit of sport; to promote the values of clean sport that we are all so passionate about; and ultimately, we will protect the athletes and citizens we serve."
 
"WADA is often asked if we support the introduction of legislation to combat doping in sport. For sure, the cooperation between Governments and sports bodies can be improved further and WADA favors governments using their legislative powers to protect clean athletes in the fight against doping. We particularly welcome legislative measures to facilitate the sharing of information between Anti-Doping Organizations and law enforcement agencies in areas of mutual interest and also when it comes to the protection of whistleblowers. We have seen the benefits of this policy recently with a number of successful investigations involving WADA's Intelligence and Investigations team."
 
On day two of the Conference, under the theme 'The Right Way Together', Olivier Niggli took delegates through some of WADA's strategic priorities, in particular the development and implementation of the 2021 Code and associated International Standards, which will be discussed at WADA's World Conference on Doping in Sport to be held from 5-7 November in Katowice, Poland. He also addressed areas such as compliance monitoring, capacity building, education, intelligence and investigations, and ongoing management of the Russian doping issue.
 
In closing, WADA's Director General made an appeal to States Parties that they make every effort to comply with the UNESCO Convention. He said: "While Governments are not Signatories to the Code, it is important that they meet the expectations of them set out in the Code or face meaningful consequences – just like athletes and Code Signatories do when they fall short of expectations."
 
"Beyond this, Governments can certainly help curb the use of doping substances by strengthening the capacity of Anti-Doping Organizations, building awareness and offering more education and testing. They can also help curb the distribution of doping substances by strengthening legislation to allow for the sharing of information between law enforcement agencies and Anti-Doping Organizations, encouraging and protecting whistleblowers, and monitoring the distribution across borders."
 
About the Conference of Parties
 
The Conference of Parties has overall responsibility for implementation of the Convention. Its objectives include:

• Monitoring compliance with the Convention;
• Examining and adopting amendments to the Convention; and
• Determining how resources of the Fund for the Elimination of Doping in Sport will be used.

In addition to States Parties and other Member States of UNESCO, WADA is invited as an advisory organization to the Conference. The International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, the Council of Europe, the Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport, and other intergovernmental sports organizations are also invited as observers.

WADA PUBLISHES THREE NEW TECHNICAL LETTERS

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Published on Tuesday, 08 October 2019 21:57

Montreal, 8 October 2019

Dear Colleagues,
 
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announces the publication of the following new Technical Letters (TL) which were approved by WADA's Executive Committee (ExCo) at its meeting on 23 September 2019 in Tokyo, Japan:
 
TL-18: in-situ formation of testolactone
 
This new TL includes guidance regarding the interpretation and reporting of possible detection of testolactone in urine samples, which may result from the in-situ transformation of DHEA.
 
TL-19: in-situ formation of prednisone and prednisolone
 
This new TL includes clarification regarding the possible detection of prednisone and/or prednisolone in urine samples, which may result from the in-situ transformation of cortisone and cortisol, respectively.
 
TL-20: in-situ formation of specific substances with a steroid structure
 
This new TL includes clarification regarding the possible detection of Prohibited Substances with a steroid structure in urine samples, which may result from the in-situ transformation of endogenous steroids.
 
All WADA-accredited Laboratories are kindly requested to implement these three new Technical Letters with immediate effect.
 
About Technical Letters
 
WADA publishes Technical Letters on an ad-hoc basis in order to provide instruction and guidance to the WADA-accredited Laboratories, WADA-approved Laboratories for the Athlete Biological Passport and other stakeholders on particular issues related to the analysis, interpretation and reporting of results for specific Prohibited Substance(s) and/or Prohibited Method(s) or on the application of specific Laboratory procedures. Technical Letters are modified and/or withdrawn by WADA as deemed appropriate.
 
The Technical Letters constitute a WADA Laboratory standard document which supersedes any previous publication on a similar topic and becomes an integral part of the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL), and therefore the described technical recommendations are mandatory and shall be implemented as soon as possible after approval by WADA's ExCo and publishing on WADA's website.
 
A Technical Letter shall be applied to samples which are received by the Laboratory on and after the Technical Letter's effective date.
 
Previously issued Technical Letters are available and indexed on WADA's website.
 
Should you have any questions regarding the above Technical Letters, we kindly invite you to contact WADA's Science Department at .
 
Best regards,

World Anti-Doping Agency

WAKO Europe Board meeting

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Published on Tuesday, 27 August 2019 00:06

During the WAKO European Championships in Gyor it was organized WAKO  Europe Board of directors meeting chaired by Mr. Istvan Kiraly, WAKO Europe Acting President. The WAKO Europe Board of directors has made many for the future important decisions. Moving on more energized for the events in 2020 which will be qualifying for The World Games  Birmingham and Combat Games. The WAKO IF President Roy Baker who was present at the meeting as the Chairman of the Organizing Committee stressed the importance of WAKO participation at EUSA Combat Championships this year in Zagreb. For the  first time WAKO participated at the international multi sport event as IOC recognized sport.

CELEBRATION OF YOUTH AND LIFE

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Published on Monday, 26 August 2019 23:54

European Championships for Children, Cadets and Juniors

Gyor, Hungary, 24.8.-1.9.2019

European Championships for children, cadets and juniors officially has started. This year event is taking place in fantastic Audi arena in Gyor, Hungary. For the first time it has been organized also for the children division from 8-10 years only in Point fighting.

Mayor of Gyor opening the championships

Draw started at time with the introductory speech of WAKO Europe act. President Istvan Kiraly and WAKO IF President Roy Baker about the process, and lasted about three hours, due to the numerous starts at the Championships: 1991 entries from 39 European countries.

  
Referee seminar                 

Referee seminars for tatami and ring has been held to be sure everything is clear about the rules, due to the ongoing process of changing the rules in WAKO which is not finished yet and until than, the actual rules and regulations are in use.

During the meetings, the new Medical Committee Chairman dr Massimiliano Bianco has been appointed. His speciality is sports cardiology and he already had researches in the field of combat sports so there are many plans in this area already announced.

The new medical committee chairman

The next day the early morning hours has been reserved for the Opening ceremony, with many VIP guests from the goverment establishment and the Mayor of Gyor himself. It was magnificant spectacle and beautiful parade of teams and judges and referees in the massive lining up at the stage.

During the ceremony WAKO IF President Mr Roy Baker thanked to all participants, parents and coaches and reminded that kickboxing teaches children about reselience which became a indispensable feature in today's world. He also payed tribute for the life struggle of WAKO referee Marco Pakor, which was very touching.

The fights started 26.8. and in the next week the competition will be held on 8 tatami areas and three rings.

WADA’s programs in action at Lima 2019 Games

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Published on Wednesday, 31 July 2019 20:36

WADA INDEPENDENT OBSERVER AND ATHLETE OUTREACH PROGRAMS IN ACTION AT LIMA 2019 GAMES

  MONTREAL, 30 JULY 2019

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is pleased to outline its Independent Observer (IO) and Athlete Outreach (AO) programs at the Lima 2019 Pan American (Pan Am) Games, which run from 26 July to 11 August; and, the Parapan American (Parapan Am) Games, to be held from 23 August to 1 September 2019.

The IO and AO teams (listed below) will be active throughout the Pan Am Games and, respectively, are providing real-time expert advice to organizers on all matters relating to the doping control program in place, and giving athletes and their supporting teams the opportunity to learn  more about anti-doping and how the anti-doping community works to protect clean sport. The AO Team will also be staying on throughout the Parapan Am Games in order to conduct their activities with para-athletes and their support teams as well.

WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said: “The Pan American Games are an important event on the sporting calendar with almost 7,000 athletes from 41 American countries competing in 39 sports. In the lead-up to the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games, it is especially  important for our experienced team of observers to be present as many of the Pan Am events are qualifiers for the Olympic Games.

“In addition to our IO team, a dynamic WADA Athlete Outreach team is also on hand to provide an opportunity for all competitors to engage with anti-doping in an informal and fun environment. Raising anti-doping awareness with the world’s competing athletes and their support personnel, reminding them of clean sport values and asking them to reflect on all the reasons why they choose to play true is a critical task for the anti-doping community, and I wish to thank Pan Am Sports and the Games’ organizing committee for partnering with WADA on such
an important occasion.”

WADA’s IO team, which is composed of international experts in anti-doping, is intended to instill confidence in athletes and other stakeholders as to the quality, effectiveness and reliability of anti-doping programs being carried out at major events around the world.  The IO team is observing all aspects of the Pan Am Games’ anti-doping program, including:

        * Test distribution planning
        * Selection of competitors for testing
        * Notification of doping control
        * Sample collection procedures
        * Therapeutic Use Exemption procedures
        * Results management

The team is providing daily feedback to Pan Am Sports as well as the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee. The team will then issue a post-event report that will include a series of observations and recommendations designed to enhance anti-doping activities at future Pan Am Games.

WADA’s AO team, which is staffed by anti-doping experts from across the Americas, is active in the athletes’ village during the Pan Am Games and will be active during the Parapan Am Games as well. The aim of the team is to build awareness among athletes, support personnel and others as to the dangers and consequences of doping and as it relates to athletes’ rights and responsibilities under the World Anti-Doping Code

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.  Beyond WADA’s IO and AO activities during the Lima 2019 Games, in connection with the mandate of WADA’s Prevalence Working Group, WADA and Pan Am Sports have an agreement to carry out a pilot study during the Games. Specifically, the study seeks to validate a survey method among athletes during the Games with the objective of developing a tool or set of tools to estimate the prevalence of doping in sports and countries; and, to enable measurement of the impact of anti-doping policies and actions on the prevalence of doping over time.

THE IO AND AO TEAM MEMBERS

THE IO TEAM – PAN AM GAMES

        * Ilaria Baudo (Chair), WADA
        * Juan Manuel Lauria (Team Manager), WADA
        * Saul Salcedo, National Anti-Doping Organization of Panama
        * Andrés Gonzalez, National Anti-Doping Organization of Chile

  THE AO TEAM – PAN AM GAMES

        * Stacy Spletzer-Jegen (Team Manager), WADA
        * Edna Serra, WADA

  _Phase 1:_

        * Patricia Esposito, National Anti-Doping Organization of Guatemala
        * Patrick Werleman, National Olympic Committee of Aruba
        * Carolina Joly, IOC Youth Change Maker, National Olympic Committee of Panama

  _Phase 2:_

        * Jorge Laurence, National Anti-Doping Organization of Argentina
        * Paulina de la Loza, National Anti-Doping Organization of Mexico
        * Christopher Thompson, Bahamas Anti-Doping Commission

  THE AO TEAM – PARAPAN AM GAMES

        * Edna Serra (Team Manager), WADA
        * Elizabeth Gimenez, National Anti-Doping Organization of Paraguay
        * Cathlyn Pistolas, United States Anti-Doping Agency
        * Adriana Taboza, National Anti-Doping Organization of Brazil