WADA publishes final version of Athletes Anti-Doping Rights Act

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published the final version of the Athletes Anti-Doping Rights Act which provides rights including terms of testing, data protection and accountability.

The purpose of the Act, which takes effect on 1st January 2021, is to ensure that all athletes who participate in doping-free sport have their rights clearly set out. The Act was developed by athletes and has been created in accordance with the 2021 WADA Code and the International Standards on Testing.

Items covered in the Act are:
Equality of opportunity
Equitable and fair testing programs
Medical treatment and protection of health rights
Right to justice
Right to accountability
Whistleblower rights
Right to education
Right to data protection
Rights to compensation
Protected persons rights
Rights during a sample collection session
Right to B sample analysis

“Recommended” athlete rights:
Right to an anti-doping system free from corruption
Right to participate in governance and decision-making
Right to legal aid

WADA Athlete Committee Chair Ben Sandford said: “We are incredibly grateful to all the athletes and other stakeholders who contributed to developing the Athletes’ Anti-Doping Rights Act. It is vital that athletes and anti-doping organizations know what rights athletes have, how to access them, and where to go for remedy. We hope that the Act will become a valuable resource for athletes and contribute to making sport cleaner and fairer. We call upon the anti-doping community worldwide to support its implementation and its promise.”

You can access the Act here.