141st IOC Session receives updates on worldwide anti-doping activities and preparations for future Olympic Games

ITA: five years and counting

ITA Chair Valérie Fourneyron began her address by reflecting on the rapid growth of the ITA since it was established five years ago with the support of USD 30 million in funding from the IOC. She noted that the ITA now delivers the anti-doping programmes for more than 60 international sports organisations, including the IOC and the overwhelming majority of Olympic International Federations (IFs).

The Session also heard that, over the past year alone, the ITA has collected more than 37,000 samples across more than 800 sporting events, and has reviewed more than 550 potential anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs).

“While the ITA has become today the world’s largest anti-doping organisation for the delivery of anti-doping programmes, it remains our deep conviction that for the Olympic Movement to show a united front and credibility in the fight against doping, every partner and stakeholder must play its part and join forces with us,” Fourneyron said.

Dr Fourneyron touched upon the ITA’s anti-doping programmes for the imminent Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024 and the Olympic Games Paris 2024. She confirmed that the ITA’s Paris 2024 pre-Games Expert Group has already begun its work to ensure that all athletes likely to take part in the Games are subject to adequate doping controls, and any potential testing gaps are addressed.

Concluding her report, the ITA Chair said: “The ITA embraces the IOC's vision to further integrate e-sports, and has started delivering anti-doping education during the Olympic e-sports week in Singapore and conducting some testing for this young community of athletes to guarantee integrity right from the start.”

A strong strategic plan to ensure clean sport

DrFourneyron went on to update the Session on the ITA’s future activities – guided by its new Strategic Plan created after extensive consultations with the IOC, WADA, IFs, National Olympic Committees (NOCs), athletes’ commissions and other stakeholders. The plan, Dr Fourneyron explained, is built on six pillars:

1. The credibility of the fight against doping and the ITA’s contribution as an independent and expert driving force.
2. The delivery of excellence through innovations, intelligence and control mechanisms.
3. Cooperation with all stakeholders in clean sport to continuously improve and advance the ITA’s efforts.
4. The expertise of ITA members.
5. The further promotion by the ITA of organisational synergies and economies of scale to maximise performance.
6. The financial sustainability of the ITA.

Global Anti-Doping Intelligence and Investigations Network supported by Interpol

Addressing the IOC Members, WADA President Witold Bańka urged all anti-doping organisations to make the most of the remaining time before the Olympic Games Paris 2024 to ensure that athletes are tested to the appropriate level.

“Please make sure to implement the testing recommendations that you will receive from the Pre-Games Expert Group being led by the ITA,” he said. “Ahead of the Games, we will work hard with the ITA and other key stakeholders, including the WADA-accredited laboratory in Paris, to ensure everyone is ready for the challenge that awaits.”

Part of that preparation lies in the education of athletes and their entourage. Earlier this month, WADA launched a new education course for athletes and coaches who will take part in the Games in Paris.

Bańka also reported on the success of a pilot project launched in Europe that brought together anti-doping experts from National Anti-Doping Agencies (NADOs) and law enforcement agencies.

“This project, co-funded by the European Union, allowed NADOs to work with law enforcement and WADA on no fewer than 21 investigations that led to the dismantling of several illicit steroid laboratories,” Bańka said.

“Following this success, WADA will establish a Global Anti-Doping Intelligence and Investigations Network with the support of INTERPOL,” he explained. “We will build this network region by region, starting in Asia in 2025.”

The WADA President reiterated the importance of compliance monitoring. “It is a central pillar of our mission and at the heart of athletes’ expectations,” Bańka said. “It is crucial for the global programme that all sports and all countries follow the same set of rules and implement compliant anti-doping programmes. This harmonisation means that athletes know what to expect, no matter where they are from or where they are competing, and know that their competitors are subject to the same robust programme all year long.”

Bańka indicated that WADA was continuing to pursue private funding to complement the contribution of the sports movement and governments to WADA’s annual budget. He informed the Session that, following on from the announcement in 2022 that South African broadcaster SuperSport was on board as a regional sponsor, just last month WADA signed a five-year partnership agreement with global technology firm Sword Group, as the Agency’s first ever global partner.

Bańka said: “This agreement with Sword is a historic moment for WADA. It is a direct result of our commitment to bring in private funding to complement the annual budget. And it is not the end. We are confident that we will succeed in attracting other organisations willing to invest in the integrity of sport. It will strengthen our ability to ensure a harmonised, coordinated and effective anti-doping system for athletes.”