World Anti Doping Agency

In News: India has pledged a sum of USD 1 million to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) towards the agency’s scientific research budget.

World Anti-Doping Agency

Origin

• After the events that shook the world of cycling in the summer of 1998, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to convene a World Conference on Doping, bringing together all parties involved in the fight against doping.
• The First World Conference on Doping in Sport held, in Lausanne, Switzerland, on February 2-4, 1999, produced the Lausanne Declaration on Doping in Sport. 
• This document provided for the creation of an independent international anti-doping agency to be operational for the Games of the XXVII Olympiad in Sydney in 2000.
• Pursuant to the terms of the Lausanne Declaration, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was established on November 10, 1999, in Lausanne to promote and coordinate the fight against doping in sport internationally. 
• WADA was set up as a foundation under the initiative of the IOC with the support and participation of intergovernmental organizations, governments, public authorities, and other public and private bodies fighting doping in sport.
• The Agency consists of equal representatives from the Olympic Movement and public authorities.

VISION

• A world where all athletes can participate in a doping-free sporting environment.

MISSION

• To lead a collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport.

VALUES

• INTEGRITY
  • We protect the rights of all athletes in relation to anti-doping, contributing to the integrity in sport.
  • We observe the highest ethical standards and avoid improper influences or conflicts of interests that would undermine our independent and unbiased judgement.
  • We develop policies, procedures and practices that reflect justice, equity and integrity.

OPENNESS

• • We are impartial, objective, balanced and transparent.

• • We collaborate with stakeholders and the industry to find common ways to fight doping.
  • We listen to athletes’ voices, as the stakeholders that are most impacted by anti-doping policies and activities.
  • We strive to be diverse and inclusive to ensure that everyone has equal opportunities to be represented.
  • We are self-reflective and ask for feedback.
  • We are trustworthy and respectful of all our stakeholders.

• EXCELLENCE
• We are trustworthy and respectful of all our stakeholders.
• We develop innovative and practical solutions to enable stakeholders to implement anti-doping programs.
• We apply and share best practice standards to all our activities.
• We look for the most efficient methods to do our work.

Role OF WADA

Code Compliance Monitoring

• Overseeing acceptance, implementation and compliance of the Code, the core document that glues together anti-doping policies, rules and regulations worldwide.

Education

• Preventative methods such as values-based education programs targeted at young athletes, coaches, doctors, training and parents on the dangers and consequences of doping, as well as the legal and social ramifications, are increasingly prevalent in anti-doping programs.

Science And Medicine

• Scientific research, publishing the annual List of Prohibited Substances and Methods, and managing laboratory accreditation, Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) and the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP).

Anti-doping Coordination

• Coordinating anti-doping activities globally through the central clearinghouse Anti-Doping Administration & Management System (ADAMS).

Global Anti-doping Development

• Through its Regional Anti-Doping Organization (RADO) program, WADA is developing a clean sport culture in parts of the world previously untouched by anti-doping programs.

Athlete Outreach

• Engaging with athletes, their entourage and all those involved in sport on the world stage, WADA’s Athlete Outreach program aims to raise awareness while ensuring athletes are involved and part of the solution.

Cooperation With Law Enforcement

• Working closely with government, law enforcement and Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) in order to facilitate evidence gathering and information sharing.

Other Initiatives

• Conducting a wide range of other activities including Independent Observer Missions at major sports events.