WADA Foundation Board approves changes to Statutes and Governance Regulations

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Foundation Board has approved changes to Statutes and Governance Regulations including nine-year President term. 

WADA are making a number of reforms to governance including the number of Board members increasing from 38 to 42 to allow for two elected representatives from WADA’s Athlete Council and two elected representatives from WADA’s National Anti-Doping Organization Expert Advisory Group. 

However, the reform that has garnered the most attention was the decision “to extend the initial term for a WADA President and Vice-President from three to six years. This was done in order to accommodate the initial cooling-off period and the formal election process for those positions. A possibility for a further and final term of three years (with a full election process) for the role of President and Vice-President has been introduced, harmonizing the total term limit of nine years with term limits for other members of the Board and ExCo members.” 

This means that Poland’s Witold Bańka, who became President in 2020, could now hold the position until 2029 under the new regulations. WADA director general Olivier Niggli said “These reforms are making WADA more efficient, effective, athlete-centered, transparent and independent. It is very encouraging to see such broad support for these reforms from our members, who include independents and representatives of athletes, Governments of the world and the sport movement.”