Wed, April 16, 2025
WADA Executive Committee establishes Working Group on Contaminations
The World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Executive Committee (ExCo) has established a Working Group on contaminations to strengthen the global anti-doping system. The main updates and decisions include:
The Cottier Report
In September 2024, Independent Prosecutor, Eric Cottier, who was appointed to review WADA’s management of the no-fault contamination cases concerning 23 Chinese swimmers in 2021, shared his final report (the Cottier Report). This report concluded that: WADA showed no bias towards China, that its decision not to appeal the cases to the Court of Arbitration for Sport was reasonable, and that it followed the rules at all times.
A Working Group was set up by the WADA ExCo so that its members could use the Cottier Report to make important improvements to the global anti-doping system. The ExCo officially approved the creation of the WADA Working Group on Contaminations (WGC).
The WGC will be responsible for undertaking a global review on sources of contamination leading to adverse analytical findings (AAFs) and anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) in sport. The WGC will also provide recommendations to the ExCo on potential improvements to the regulations and processes to further take into account the risk of such contaminations, while also maintaining an efficient anti-doping system.
Witold Bańka, President of WADA, spoke out about the importance of this new Working Group:
“As has been highlighted recently by the Chinese swimmers cases and several other cases, the issue of contamination is real and growing. It is crucial that WADA and its clean sport partners address it head on. More and more, we are seeing those who test positive put forward contamination defences. Our challenge is to distinguish between cases of genuine contamination versus those who dishonestly seek to use it in an attempt to avoid sanction. It is a fine balance. If the system is too strict and rigid, innocent athletes will suffer injustice. If the system is too lenient, cheats will prosper. This is one of the key challenges that the clean sport community now faces…
This new Working Group will help us plot the way forward, complementing wider WADA initiatives, such as WADA’s Taskforce on Unintentional Doping which will shortly be calling for input from the community on this topic. In addition, in the context of the ongoing World Anti-Doping code and International Standard update process, WADA’s Code Drafting Team is reflecting on this problem and considering the need for regulatory improvements with the goal of ensuring harmonisation and consistency for athletes. This is a complex and nuanced area of anti-doping in which WADA always strives to strike the right balance for the good of athletes and clean sport.”
WADA is also considering establishing a Working Group on the Operational Independence of National Anti-Doping Organisations (WGOI). WADA discussed how the WGOI could possibly explore the issue of National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) independence, which is mandatory under the WADA Code.
Enhanced Games
WADA Director General Olivier Niggli has understandably used this opportunity to highlight the issue of the Enhanced Games.
He voiced: “WADA unconditionally condemns the Enhanced Games as an unsafe and irresponsible project. Whether from WADA, the International Federations, Governments, National Anti-Doping Organisations or from among the athletes, everyone within the global anti-doping community should speak out strongly and put forward a united front against this dangerous experiment. Allowing this event to go ahead would put the health of athletes and the integrity of sport at grave risk.”
Funding
The WADA ExCo expressed concern concerning the shortfall in WADA’s 2024 funding due to the withholding of funding by the previous United States administration due to the situation concerning the Chinese swimmers. Therefore, WADA has expressed that there will be a focus on preserving WADA’s solidarity model and ensuring all countries comply so that WADA can lead the movement for doping-free sport.
Code Compliance
The WADA ExCo followed the suggestion of the Agency’s independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC) to allege the NADO of Iran as non-compliant with the Code and added the NADO of Sri Lanka to the compliance ‘watchlist.’
The Iranian NADO has been alleged as non-compliant with the Code in connection with issues that were identified through the Code Compliance Questionnaire (CCQ) exercise in the area of testing. The proposed consequences and reinstatement requirements for the Iranian NADO can be found here.
World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards Update
In February, WADA launched the fifth and penultimate phase of the process concerning the 2027 Code and International Standards update process, namely the third consultation phase. Within this phase, stakeholders, including athletes, have the opportunity to provide their feedback on the latest drafts of the Code and Standards. This will contribute to the wider discussion at the September 2025 ExCo meeting. The final versions will then be submitted for approval during the Sixth World Conference on Doping in Sport which will be held in Busan, Republic of Korea, in December 2025.
2025 Scientific Research Grants (Cycle 1)
WADA funded four projects in this cycle, from a total of 28 expressions of interest. This amounted to $439,560 (USD). WADA will publish the details of these projects for transparency in the coming months.
The remaining funds in the 2025 research budget will be used to support Cycles 2 and 3, as well as being distributed to already identified targeted projects in areas such as glucocorticoids, contaminants, and reference materials.
Social Science Research
The ExCo approved WADA’s Social Science Research (SSR) Strategy 2025-2029. This strategy aims to further integrate social science research into anti-doping efforts.
Nominations Committee and Athlete Member Appointments to Standing Committees
The ExCo approved the reappointment of Regine Buettner as an independent member and Kelly Fairweather as the Sport Movement member on WADA’s Nominations Committee for further three-year terms.
The ExCo also approved the appointment of Ryan Pini and Yuhan Tan as the members selected by WADA’s Athlete Council to represent the Council on the 2025 WADA Finance and Administration Committee and the 2025 WADA Health, Medical and Research Committee, respectively.
You can find out more information about the Working Group’s updates and decisions here - WADA Executive Committee sets up Working Group on Contaminations | World Anti Doping Agency
