Athlete Groups and Anti-Doping-Leaders Join Forces to Call for further reforms of WADA

11.11.2020

Berlin/Bonn. Die Stiftung Nationale Anti Doping Agentur (NADA) und Athleten Deutschland e.V. haben sich dem gemeinsamen Statement von Athletenvertretungen aus 14 Ländern und 14 führenden Nationalen Anti-Doping Organisationen (NADOs) angeschlossen. Das Statement - in englischer Sprache - finden Sie weiter unten.

Dr. Andrea Gotzmann, Vorstandvorsitzende der NADA, bekräftigt: "Glaubwürdigkeit und Vertrauen in den Reglungsgeber WADA sind für die beiden großen Stakeholder-Gruppen Athletinnen und Athleten sowie Nationale Anti-Doping Organisationen - NADOs - von elementarer Bedeutung. Bei den Bemühungen um einen fairen und sauberen Sport müssen die Expertise der NADOs, aber auch die Erfahrungen der Athletinnen und Athleten innerhalb aller WADA-Gremien ausreichend Berücksichtigung finden."

Maximilian Klein, Beauftragter für internationale Sportpolitik bei Athleten Deutschland, kommentiert: "Wir alle wollen eine WADA, die ihrem Mandat für den sauberen Sport unabhängig nachkommt und die Athletenschaft in das Zentrum ihrer Entscheidungen rückt. Es ist daher nur folgerichtig, dass wir den Schulterschluss mit all jenen suchen, die sich auch seit Jahren für naheliegende, aber dennoch weitreichende Reformen der WADA einsetzen. Wir werden nun gemeinsam an diesem Ziel arbeiten."

 

Athlete Groups and Anti-Doping-Leaders Join Forces to Call for further reforms of WADA

11 November 2020: Athlete representatives from 14 countries join forces with 14 leading National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) to collectively call on meaningful reform at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). As individual organizations, we have repeatedly submitted formal proposals for change. Now we speak collectively to elevate our call for more independence, transparency, and accountability at WADA. And we reaffirm the need to strengthen human rights and eliminate conflicts of interest in the anti-doping system.

WADA's major stakeholders unite to call yet again for substantive change and meaningful reform at WADA. Athletes bear all of the anti-doping testing, and National Anti-Doping Organizations carry out a majority of it, yet neither are properly represented in WADA's governance nor the review of it. While WADA says its priority is in engaging and empowering athletes, the Agency still does not give them the place they deserve.

We all will benefit from a stronger and more effective WADA that builds trust with athletes and effectively carries out its mission. WADA's standing can only be improved through meaningful reforms that embrace both independent athlete representatives and NADOs as essential components of global anti-doping governance.

 

ENDS

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This Media Statement is released by the following Athlete Groups and National Anti-Doping Leaders.

Athlete Groups: Canada (AthletesCAN), Athletics Association, Austria, Australia (Sport Integrity Australia Athlete Advisory Group), Denmark (NOC Athlete Committee), France (AFLD Athlete Committee), Athleten Deutschland, Global Athlete, Ireland (NOC Athlete Committee), Netherlands (NOC Athlete Committee), Norway (NOC Athlete Committee), UK (British Athletes Commission), UK (UKAD Athletes Commission) and USA (United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee Athletes Advisory Council).

National Anti-Doping Organizations: Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, UK and USA