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Montreal, 27 October 2016 – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) acknowledges the reaffirmed anti-doping reform proposals made yesterday by global leaders representing National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) at a special summit hosted by NADA Deutschland in Bonn, Germany. The proposals, which were first presented during the special summit held in Copenhagen, in August, aim to ‘restore confidence of clean athletes and those who value the intergrity of sport’ by strengthening and further empowering WADA as the independent global regulator of doping in sport.
“WADA acknowledges the renewed proposals by the NADO leaders; and, would welcome meeting as they suggest to discuss them further,” said Olivier Niggli, WADA Director General. “The renewed proposals will be considered, along with other stakeholder feedback, by the Agency’s Foundation Board on 20 November,” continued Niggli. “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,” he said. “It is encouraging to hear the sentiment re-emphasised yesterday to the effect that WADA must be given greater authority, regulatory and sanctioning powers,” 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.”
The Agency also takes this opportunity to point out that the WADA President’s, Sir Craig Reedie’s, term as a member of the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board came to an end in August. This means that the President does not hold a policy-making position within the Sports Movement; and, continues to be fully committed to strengthening WADA and ensuring that athletes’ rights are safeguarded.
On 20 September, 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. The consensus was endorsed by WADA’s Executive Committee the following day. On 8 October, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) convened an Olympic Summit; at which, participants proposed the sport movement’s recommendations aimed at protecting clean athletes.
WADA’s Foundation Board will consider the sport-government consensus reached at the Think Tank; the NADO proposals; the Olympic Summit recommendations; and, outcomes that stem from the Government Forum of 17-18 November and from other stakeholders. 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.
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MEDIA CONTACTS
Ben Nichols, Senior Manager, Media Relations and Communications
Phone: + 1-514-904-8225
E-mail: media@wada-ama.org
Maggie Durand, Coordinator, Media Relations and Communications
Phone: + 1-514-904-8225
E-mail: media@wada-ama.org
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