Montreal: In a press release sent early today, the apex Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said that it will consider during its Foundation Board meeting, the anti-doping reform proposals made yesterday by global leaders representing National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs), the sport-government consensus reached at the Think Tank; the Olympic Summit recommendations; and, outcomes that stem from the Government Forum of 17-18 November and from other stakeholders. These will guide their roadmap towards anti-doping systems implementations further.
Earlier, the NADOs leaders from across the globe advised WADA of certain anti-doping reforms proposals at a special summit hosted by NADA Deutschland in Bonn, Germany. These proposals, also presented by the NADO Leaders during the special summit held in Copenhagen, in August, aim to ‘restore confidence of clean athletes and those who value the integrity of sport’ by strengthening and further empowering WADA as the independent global regulator of doping in sport.
Speaking about the proposals, Olivier Niggli, WADA Director General said, “WADA acknowledges the renewed proposals by the NADO leaders; and, would welcome meeting as they suggest to discuss them further.”
Speaking further Niggli, happy with the contributions from the network of NADOs, “The renewed proposals will be considered, along with other stakeholder feedback, by the Agency’s Foundation Board on 20 November. WADA has received a lot of valuable feedback on such key topics as: sanctions and consequences for non-compliance; governance and funding; investigations; and testing. It is encouraging to hear the sentiment re-emphasised yesterday to the effect that WADA must be given greater authority, regulatory and sanctioning powers.”
Adding about the next process in line with the implementations, he said, “We will take all these recommendations with us to the Foundation Board meeting; at which, the process towards a ‘roadmap’ for the anti-doping system will be drawn up.”
In September this year, WADA’s first multi-stakeholder Think Tank reached an eight-point consensus to the effect that WADA must be strengthened and empowered with greater independence and sanctioning power; which got endorsed by WADA’s Executive Committee.
At the Olympic Summit on October 8, stakeholders of Olympic Movement proposed the sport movement’s recommendations aimed at protecting clean athletes. The Board will begin the process towards a ‘roadmap’, which will include further consultation, aimed at strengthening key areas of anti-doping; as well as, providing a direction for the future of the system.
The WADA President’s, Sir Craig Reedie’s, term as a member of the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board ended in August which means that Reedie does not hold a policy-making position within the Sports Movement and can be fully committed to strengthening WADA and safeguarding the clean athletes.