News and Media

Anti-doping news

IWF Ready For Clean Competition At 2017 World Weightlifting Championships

Record number of anti-doping tests expected during World Championships Lausanne, 16 October 2017: With just over 50 days remaining to the 2017 IWF World Weightlifting Championships in Anaheim (USA), Dr Patrick Schamasch of the IWF’s independent Anti-Doping Commission outlined the outstanding preparations that aim to ensure clean competition. The IWF is completely committed to protecting clean athletes and through its Anti-Doping Commission and Clean Sport Commission has already begun implementing anti-doping measures to ensure a level playing field at the upcoming World Championships. More anti-doping testing is expected to take place at this year’s World Championships than at any previous edition. The latest featured 584 athletes and 288 tests were carried out representing 49% of the athletes participating at the event. This will be accompanied by widespread outreach and educational programmes, organised in conjunction with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and USADA, which aim to increase awareness and understanding and support cultural change. “Working autonomously, we have made very thorough preparations for the world championships,” said Dr Schamasch. “For example, we had meetings a month ago in Colorado Springs with both the organising committee and the US Anti-Doping Agency. The IWF Anti-Doping Commission is now ready to ensure a full range of in and out of competition tests for both urine and blood.” “Our close collaboration with USADA has allowed us to have a high degree of confidence in the quality of the anti-doping programme for Anaheim,” continued Dr Schamasch “In addition to looking at important elements like the sample collection facilities, the doping control officers and chaperones, the IWF Anti-Doping Commission has worked very carefully on the test distribution plan. We even will have on site IWF experts available who know the athletes well, who know their performances and physiques, and who can assist on-site with the targeting of in and out-of-competition tests.” Athletes expected to take part in the World Championships are already being tested by the IWF, for example during ongoing regional qualifying competitions in South America. Overall testing plans are created by the IWF’s Anti-Doping Commission prior to the start of each year and then constantly revised according to athlete performances and ongoing intelligence gathering. Dr Schamasch, who served the IOC for 15 years leaving it as Medical Director, described the quantity and quality of the IWF’s anti-doping work as putting it into the lead group of International Federations (IFs): “It’s always possible to do more and we will. But the level and the kind of testing carried out by the IWF, I would say, certainly puts it among the top three or four

WADA Publishes 2018 List of prohibited substances and methods

Montreal, 29 September 2017 – Today, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) publishes the 2018 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods (List); along with, the 2018 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes. The List, which was approved by WADA’s Executive Committee on 24 September 2017, comes into force on 1 January 2018. The List, which is one of five International Standards that are mandatory for all Signatories of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code), designates what substances and methods are prohibited both in- and out-of-competition; and, which substances are banned in particular sports. “WADA is pleased to publish the 2018 Prohibited List,” said WADA President, Sir Craig Reedie. “Updated annually, the List is released three months ahead of taking effect so that all stakeholders -- in particular athletes and their entourage -- have sufficient time to familiarize themselves with the document and its modifications,” Reedie continued. “It is vital that all athletes and entourage take the necessary time to consult the List; and that, they contact their respective anti-doping organizations (ADOs) if they have any doubts as to the status of a substance or method.” “Annually, the Prohibited List review involves a very extensive stakeholder consultation process over the course of nine months,” said Director General, Olivier Niggli. “In reviewing the List, experts examine such sources as: scientific and medical research; trends; and, intelligence gathered from law enforcement and pharmaceutical companies in order to stay ahead of those that endeavor to cheat the system,” Niggli continued. The List’s annual 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 nine-month consultation process that includes WADA’s List Expert Group gathering information; circulating a draft List amongst 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 recommendation to WADA’s Executive Committee that 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 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; or, 3. it violates the spirit of sport. 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 process has overwhelming acceptance from athletes, physicians and anti-doping stakeholders worldwide. To view the changes made in the 2018 Prohibited List as compared to the 2017 version, please see the 2018 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes. Languages and Formats The 2018 Prohibited List, the Summary of Modifications, and the 2018 Monitoring Program are available for download on WADA’s website in English and French. Spanish will follow shortly. Stakeholders wishing to translate the List into other languages are kindly asked to signal their interest at [email protected], by 27 October. If interested, WADA would 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 1 January 2018. Source: Maggie Durand WADA Coordinator, Media Relations and

WADA provisionally suspends accreditation of Paris Laboratory

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has provisionally suspended the WADA accreditation of the Laboratory of the Agence Française de lutte contre le Dopage (the National Anti-Doping Organization of France) in Châtenay-Malabry, France (Paris Laboratory). This provisional suspension was imposed due to analytical issues self-reported to WADA by the Laboratory. The provisional suspension, which took effect on 24 September 2017, prohibits the Paris Laboratory from carrying out any anti-doping activities, including all analyses of urine and blood samples. The provisional suspension will remain in place pending disciplinary proceedings being carried out by an independent Disciplinary Committee, which will be mandated to make a recommendation to the Chair of the WADA Executive Committee regarding the status of the Laboratory’s WADA accreditation. During the period of the provisional suspension, samples that have not yet been analyzed by the Paris Laboratory; samples currently undergoing a confirmation procedure; and, any samples for which an Adverse Analytical Finding has been reported; must be securely transported to another WADA-accredited laboratory. This is in order to ensure continued high quality sample analysis, which also helps preserve athletes’ confidence in this process and of the wider anti-doping system. According to the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL), WADA is responsible for accrediting and re-accrediting anti-doping laboratories, thereby ensuring that they maintain the highest quality standards. This monitoring process is conducted in conjunction with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assessment by independent national accreditation bodies that are full members of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation

WADA urges states parties to renew their pledge to clean sport at 6th UNESCO Conference of parties

The World Anti-Doping Agency’s President, Sir Craig Reedie, and Director General, Olivier Niggli, were in Paris, France, this week to take part in the 6th UNESCO Conference of Parties (Conference) that was held on 25 and 26 September. The Conference, which is a statutory session that takes place on a bi-annual basis, addresses challenges on States Parties’ compliance with the provisions of the UNESCO International Convention Against Doping in Sport (Convention). The Convention, which was adopted in 2005, is the legal instrument through which States Parties (governments) formalize their commitment to the World Anti-Doping Code (Code). At 99% global endorsement, the Convention is the second most successful one in the history of UNESCO in terms of the rhythm of ratification post adoption. In his speech that launched day one of the Conference, WADA President, Sir Craig Reedie, thanked UNESCO for its collaboration and urged States Parties to renew their pledge to Clean Sport. “Over the last 15 years, WADA, UNESCO, governments and the sport movement have built a solid global anti-doping system,” said Reedie. “The Code and the Convention are robust and complementary instruments,” he continued. “The Convention focuses on what governments can do; while, the Code, focuses on the Code rules and how they can be enforced. Regardless of our success, we must all do more. WADA is moving forward and States Parties are encouraged to move in the same direction.” Reedie closed his address by saying, “You are all representatives of your respective countries and, in particular, of your athletes. The discussions that you will have over these two days, and the decisions that you take, will shape the future for your athletes. This meeting represents a pivotal opportunity to strengthen the Convention. I would ask you to keep your current and future athletes top of mind during your deliberations. They make us proud every day through their excellence and perseverance…we owe them ‘our best’ in order to protect their right to clean sport.” On day two, under the theme ‘Clean Sport – A Shared Responsibility’, Olivier Niggli reemphasized the importance of increased collaboration between WADA and UNESCO in order  to “demonstrate through our actions that we are coordinated and determined -- along with the broader anti-doping community -- to prevent, deter and detect doping in sport; and, build athlete confidence and trust in the anti-doping system.” In particular, Niggli made an appeal to States Parties that they do more in the areas of education, information sharing and development of a regime of consequences for States Parties; which, were all the subject of adopted resolutions that were put forward by States Parties from Japan, Chile and Denmark respectively. Niggli then took delegates through WADA’s 2017 priorities, which aim to build an Agency that is fit for the future; details of which, can be found in the Agency’s 2016 Annual Report. To close out his presentation, Niggli provided a status update regarding WADA’s independent McLaren Investigation (that revealed institutionalized manipulation of the anti-doping system in Russia); and, progress regarding RUSADA’s Roadmap to Code Compliance. On the latter topic, Niggli was very clear that, “Since November 2015, when RUSADA was first declared non-compliant with the Code, as a result of WADA’s independent Pound Commission, WADA and its partners have been working diligently to rebuild a credible and sustainable anti-doping system in Russia.” Niggli emphasized that “WADA is unwavering in its focus on completion of the Roadmap; and that, Russian authorities know exactly what is needed to get there.” About the Conference The Conference has overall responsibility for implementation of the Convention. Its objectives include: monitoring of 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 (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Council of Europe (COE), the Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS) and other intergovernmental sports organizations are also invited as observers. Read Sir Craig Reedie’s full speech here. Source: Maggie Durand WADA Coordinator, Media Relations and