2024 Annual Report

One Mission - One Team

Message from the President and Director General

Dear Colleagues, 

We are pleased to share WADA’s 2024 Annual Report, which is an opportunity to thank you all—our partners in clean sport—for your ongoing support and dedication; and, to provide an executive overview demonstrating the impact we delivered together in 2024 in line with the priorities of WADA’s 2020-2024 Strategic Plan.

1. To further strengthen our ability to lead, we: 

continued to invest heavily in anti-doping research, allocating roughly 10% of our budget to scientific and social science research; 
strengthened our collaboration with the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Association, especially as it pertains to developing detection methods and strengthening the Therapeutic Use Exemption program; and 
created the following new Impact Areas, which will help us deliver on our 2025-2029 Strategic Plan: 
Digital Insights: To better leverage data and strategically develop our digital assets, which will help us deliver insights to improve the effectiveness of the global anti-doping system; and  
Engagement & Development: To consolidate our engagement and development strategies through greater coordination and the use of insights to identify priority activities and regions.

2. To grow impact, we: 

continued to bolster the intelligence and investigations (I&I) capacity of the global anti-doping system through the success of the European Union (EU)-funded Capability and Capacity Building project. Overall, the project led to more than 100 joint-led operations, involving collaboration with 51 ADOs and law enforcement agencies across 48 countries and effectively preventing more than 500 million PED doses from entering the global market; 
published data from Phase I of the Anti-Doping Organization (ADO) Benchmarking Project, which helps ADOs measure their activity in context;  
hosted our inaugural Social Science Research Symposium, followed by our 2024 Global Education Conference in Cannes, France, which we delivered in partnership with France’s ADO, l’Agence française de lutte contre le dopage (AFLD).

3. To support our commitment to be athlete centered, our Athlete Engagement team worked closely with WADA’s Athlete Council on several initiatives, including: 

the Athletes’ Anti-Doping Ombuds that, in September, was approved to continue as an ongoing program;  
continued development of the Human Rights Impact Assessment; and 
promoting clean sport directly with the athletes, via athlete-led teams, on the ground of five major events on four continents, including the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, France.

4. To deliver on our priority to collaborate and unite, we:

organized many bilateral meetings and regional forums between WADA Leadership and leaders from Governments and the Sport Movement; 
convened more than 1,100 participants from the global anti-doping community for our 2024 Annual Symposium, which included a 25th Anniversary gala—an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of the global anti-doping community and some of its key contributors; and 
progressed the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code (Code) and International Standards Update Process, which will culminate with approval during the sixth World Conference on Doping in Sport that is to be held in Busan, Republic of Korea, in December 2025.

While we are proud of all that we accomplished together in 2024, as many of you would know, the year was also significantly disrupted by the China Anti-Doping Agency no-fault contamination cases involving 23 swimmers from China that emerged in April and that WADA responded to quickly and thoroughly as follows.

By July, a review had been carried out by an Independent Prosecutor, Mr. Eric Cottier, which determined that WADA showed no bias towards China and that the Agency’s decision not to appeal the cases to the Court of Arbitration for Sport was reasonable based on the evidence.
In September, Mr. Cottier delivered his final reasoned Report to the ExCo, which included a number of findings as to how anti-doping rules and WADA’s administrative processes could be further strengthened. As a consequence, the ExCo established a Working Group tasked with turning the findings of Mr. Cottier and those of the Anti-Doping Audit Review Committee of World Aquatics on the same topic, into concrete recommendations. 
In December, the ExCo unanimously approved a range of recommendations, which can be read in full here that covered five key areas with established timelines.

As this Annual Report is being published in August, we thought it fitting to provide a concise update on this matter from WADA’s March 2025 ExCo meeting at which point, each of the recommendations had already been implemented or was on track per timelines. We would particularly like to point out that, during the same meeting, the ExCo approved the creation of a new Working Group on Contaminations that is responsible for conducting a global review on sources of contamination leading to adverse analytical findings and anti-doping rule violations. As was highlighted by the Chinese cases and several other cases over the years, the issue of contamination is real and growing; and it is crucial that WADA and its clean sport partners address it head on. 

“We look forward to discussing this and other important matters when members of the global anti-doping community convene in Busan for the World Conference."

Visit official 2025 World Conference on Doping in Sport website

There we will engage in high-level discussion and debate about the World Anti-Doping Program; reflect on how far we have come and the challenges and opportunities ahead with the goal of delivering on One Mission as One Team.

We thank you all for your commitment to clean sport.

Witold Bańka Olivier Niggli
President Director General

Our Team

Foundation Board

WADA’s Foundation Board (Board) is our highest decision-making body, with an equal number of representatives from the Olympic Movement (OM) and Public Authorities (PAs). The composition of the Board is as follows:
- the independent WADA President and independent WADA Vice-President;
- 20 representatives of the OM, including four athletes’ representatives nominated by the OM and a further two representatives of the Athlete Council (AC), chosen by and from the AC; and
- 20 representatives of the PAs, including two representatives of National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs), as chosen by and from the NADO Expert Advisory Group.
Members are appointed by their respective constituency groups (e.g., International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, Association of National Olympic Committees, Governments by continents, etc.).

Nearly half of the 2024 Board was made up of active or former international-level athletes.

2024 Board Membership
Executive Committee

The day-to-day running of WADA, including the performance of activities and the administration of assets, is overseen by the Executive Committee (ExCo), as delegated by the Board. The ExCo is responsible for taking decisions that are not reserved by the WADA Statutes to the Board. The composition of the ExCo is as follows:
- five Independent Members, namely, the WADA President (as Chair), the WADA Vice-President (as Vice-Chair) and three members who are proposed by the OM and the PAs and vetted by WADA’s Nominations Committee;
- five representatives of the OM, one of which is an athlete;
- five representatives of the PAs; and
- the AC Chair.
Over one-third of the 2024 ExCo was made up of former international-level athletes.

2024 ExCo Membership

Other Governance Bodies

In addition to the two decision-making bodies mentioned above, WADA’s Governance Structure also includes four other types of bodies: Permanent Special Committees, Standing Committees, Expert Advisory Groups, and Working Groups.

More information on each of these governance bodies is available on our website.

With the understanding that regional and gender diversity of our governance bodies is particularly important to our stakeholders, we are sharing it below to provide stakeholders with a greater sense of the overall composition of our governance bodies. This aligns with the recommendation in 2022 from the Working Group on the Review of WADA Governance Reforms that an analysis should be conducted regularly to ensure that an accurate picture of diversity across all WADA bodies is always available. The following data is aggregated from the above-mentioned Committees and Groups as well as the ExCo and Board.

Management Team

WADA’s ExCo delegates the management of the Agency to the Director General, Olivier Niggli, who leads the Management Team. The Organizational Structure is available here.

2024 Management Team

Staff

Finally, we cannot fail to acknowledge WADA Staff in its entirety.

At the end of 2024, WADA employed 186 people of 56 nationalities to carry out its day-to-day operations from its headquarters in Montreal, four regional offices in Cape Town, Lausanne, Montevideo, and Tokyo, as well as at the Office of the President in Warsaw. Together the team collaborates with our partners across the globe to protect clean sport and uphold the values of fair play.

We are committed to cultivating a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplace and are pleased to share our gender and regional diversity data for our overall Staff.

The Year in Numbers

WADA continued to conduct internal analyses and perception surveys to measure Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) under the 2020-2024 Strategic Plan. The following insights provide a snapshot of the progress the Agency made against its KPIs in 2024.

Click on the strategic priorities below to see the data and insights.

Lead Open Close

2027 World Anti-Doping Code + International Standards Update Process: Stakeholder Consultation

Research

Grow Impact Open Close

Perception of ADAMS

Note: The perception surveys are administered at the beginning of each year, meaning the data from 2025, particularly when compared to that of 2024, provides insight on progress made over the course of 2024.

Professionalizing ADO Practitioners (GLDF)

Capacity Building

WADA provided staffing grants to 11 RADOs and the Testing Grant supported 529 out-of-competition tests, across 41 sports and 70 countries.

Be Athlete Centered Open Close

Ombuds Program

Athlete and athlete support personnel education impact

Collaborate and Unite Open Close

Collaboration among WADA governance members

Collaboration with law enforcement

Lead

To further strengthen our ability to lead the collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport, we invest in science and medicine; embrace innovation and digital technologies; develop partnerships with leaders in the field; and facilitate the development of evidence-based prevention strategies.

Cutting edge Science and Medicine

WADA continues to strengthen the development of anti-doping science and medicine to ensure effective implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) and its related International Standards.

Scientific Research Open Close

Innovative scientific research helps address emerging challenges and identify new trends in doping, including new drugs, new delivery mechanisms, new methods and new ways of improving doping detection. Since 2001, WADA has invested over USD 93 million in more than 700 research projects, helping researchers around the world make breakthroughs in anti-doping science.

In 2024 alone, 36 publications stemmed from WADA-funded scientific research.

2024 Scientific Research Grant Program:

WADA’s Executive Committee (ExCo) approved funding recommendations from the Health, Medical and Research (HMR) Committee in September and December for research proposals for WADA’s 2024 call for scientific research grants. A total of 27 projects from 14 countries across four continents were selected for funding, amounting to USD 2.37 million.

WADA’s Senior Director of Science and Medicine, Prof. Olivier Rabin, said: “WADA’s Scientific Research Grant Program is an integral part of the Agency’s commitment to stimulating and funding innovative scientific research to strengthen the global anti-doping system. Reflecting on the first year of our Expression Of Interest (EOI)-based granting system which we launched in December 2023, we are pleased with the increased attractiveness of the program and higher number of submissions received, in particular from researchers outside of the traditional anti-doping circles. The new system allows researchers to submit EOIs at any time during the year. These EOIs are then reviewed in cycles throughout the year prior to selected projects being invited to submit full applications.”

	EOIs received	Full applications submitted	Projects awarded funding	Total funding allocated
Cycle 1	70	32	14 (see list)	1,419,835
Cycle 2	52	33	13 (see list)	952,001

The total scientific research budget allocated in 2024 was USD 4.5 million—the remaining funds were used to support identified targeted projects in areas such as erythropoietin (EPO), growth hormone, gene doping, research impact, contaminants, dried blood spot, artificial intelligence and reference materials.

Athlete Biological Passport Open Close

2024 was a year of implementation and training for the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) following the 2023 launch of the Endocrine Module and blood steroid markers in the Steroidal Module, and their collective launch within a new ABP interface in ADAMS NextGen.

In March, WADA held its first ever Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU) Workshop, gathering 46 staff from all 16 WADA-approved APMUs. The Workshop, which was held at the Institute of Biochemistry of the German Sport University Cologne, included sessions aimed at harmonizing various steps of passport management, discussion of cases, and brainstorming solutions to specific issues related to ABP program management. A particular emphasis was given to sharing experiences and successes with the new features of the ABP launched in 2023, including the Endocrine Module and the new blood steroid markers.

In June, WADA held two ABP webinars to provide further updates and practical information on the new modules. The recordings can be accessed by searching for the following content on WADA’s Anti-Doping Education and Learning (ADEL) platform (sign-in required):

ABP Administration for ADOs
Practical considerations for maximizing the use of new ABP features

In August, Drs. Reid Aikin and Norbert Baume, WADA’s Associate Director and Senior Manager of the ABP, were featured on the Anti-Doping Podcast, presented by the Partnership for Clean Competition to discuss the latest updates and ongoing research for the ABP.

In December, WADA was pleased to share insights supporting a deterrent effect of testing from a study it published examining the impact of anti-doping testing on rates of Adverse Analytical Findings. As part of its strategy to leverage data to enable more informed decision making across different areas of activity, this work helps demonstrate the impact of testing on reducing the rates of AAFs for Erythropoietin Receptor Agonists (ERAs) and the value of the ABP in helping detect the use of ERAs.

Therapeutic Use Exemptions Open Close

The Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) process is a means by which an athlete may obtain approval to use a prohibited substance or method for the treatment of a legitimate medical condition. The TUE process is a necessary part of elite sport and has overwhelming acceptance from athletes, physicians, and anti-doping stakeholders worldwide.

In 2024, a total of 3,975 new approved TUEs were registered in ADAMS, a 6% increase over 2023. One contributing factor to the observed increase may have been the expanded competition calendar associated with the occurrence of the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Consistent with trends from previous years, National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) accounted for the majority of approved TUEs recorded in ADAMS in 2024 (77%). International Federations (IFs) recorded 21%, Major Event Organizations (MEOs) 1% and “Others” (e.g., continental sports confederations) 0.5%. Collectively, IFs and MEOs recognized approximately 15% of TUEs approved in 2024.

A breakdown of TUEs granted by Prohibited List classification demonstrates a pattern consistent with 2023. TUEs for substances included in the S6 class (stimulants) 32%, S9 class (glucocorticoids) 27%, and S4 class (hormone and metabolic modulators) 17%, represented the three most common categories.

WADA screens all TUEs based on risk prioritization. In 2024, the Agency conducted 15 WADA TUE Committee reviews, which resulted in 13 TUE decisions reversed and denied.

Collaboration with biopharmaceutical trade body Open Close

Collaboration with biopharmaceutical trade body to go further in protecting clean sport

In April, members of WADA leadership met with the Chief Executive Officers of biopharmaceutical companies, and members of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Association (IFPMA) to discuss how the pharma industry and the anti-doping community can work even closer together in the protection of clean sport. WADA and IFPMA reinforced their intent to further strengthen their collaboration to deliver clean sport for athletes in a number of key areas, including:

The early exchange of information on substances that have doping potential; 
The ongoing strengthening of the TUE program to make sure it remains effective and robust; 
By identifying and reducing the distribution of falsified medicinal products; and 
By co-hosting the International Conference on the Pharmaceutical Industry and the Fight Against Doping, as was done in Paris (2012) and again in Tokyo (2015).

Employing Social Science Research to develop evidence-informed prevention strategies

WADA is committed to increasing our understanding of clean sport and doping behaviors to contribute to prevention strategies through its Social Science Research (SSR) Grant Program. The Program was created to ensure preventive strategies, including anti-doping education programs, are developed using an evidence-based approach. Since its creation in 2005, the SSR Grant Program has funded 150+ projects, awarding over USD 5 million.

In August, WADA published the details of the seven SSR projects that were approved by the ExCo to receive a total of USD 335,000 in funding as part of the Agency’s 2024 SSR Grant Program. SSR grants totaling USD 185,000 were approved to fund six stand-alone projects, which will undertake research in more than 60 countries across every region of the world
Global athlete doping perception study

The remaining USD 150,000 of approved grant funding was allocated to a multinational project that was originally submitted as five distinct research proposals. Operating across four continents, the project will survey athletes regarding their perceptions towards doping in sport with the aim of identifying global trends.

The majority of research funding has been allocated to traditionally under-represented regions, in line with one of the core priorities in the 2020-2024 SSR Strategy.

Leveraging data to enable more informed decision making

In June, WADA published the data from Phase 1 of the Anti-Doping Organization (ADO) Benchmarking Project, designed to support National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) in evaluating their activities within a broader context.

The Benchmarking Project was developed to establish typical ranges for similar ADOs, allowing them to assess their own levels of activity across key program indicators—such as the number of tests conducted, Registered Testing Pool (RTP) size, and budget—relative to those benchmarks. This initiative helps ADOs and WADA identify potential gaps in program delivery and fosters collaboration to address underlying challenges effectively.

Going Further Together

In December, the Board approved WADA’s latest Strategic Plan (2025-2029) under the theme ‘Going further together,’ following a 16-month stakeholder consultation process to ensure the development of a common understanding of the progress made to date and decide which priorities to target for the next five years. The Plan sets a clear direction for the Agency so it can deliver on its primary role of developing, harmonizing, and coordinating anti-doping rules and policies across all sports and countries. It is an evolution of the 2020-2024 version that builds on recent achievements while also recognizing the challenges faced since 2020.

Through the Plan, which was published in February 2025, WADA will continue to: 
- Lead – ensuring harmonized standards that elevate the global anti-doping system 
- Grow Impact – maximizing the effect of clean sport programs
- Be athlete-centered – putting athletes at the heart of everything it does 
- Collaborate – engaging and uniting stakeholders to protect clean sport 
- Perform – striving for greater efficiency of the global anti-doping system and internal processes 
What's next?

Concretely, over the next five years, WADA will focus on: 
- Advancing science and innovation together with its network of partners and experts to stay ahead of the evolving landscape of performance-enhancing substances and methods; 
- Strengthening collaboration with stakeholders across sport, government, and law enforcement to create a global network of clean sport; 
- Adopting a prevention mindset by enhancing values-based education programs to empower athletes, coaches, and support personnel with the knowledge they need to stay clean;
- Supporting National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) around the world to ensure that the protection of clean sport is upheld globally;
- Better leveraging data and strategically developing its digital assets, which will help deliver insights to improve the effectiveness of the global anti-doping system; and 
- Working closely with its Athlete Council in promoting the voices of athletes on anti-doping issues. 
Read the 2025-2029 Strategic Plan

Grow Impact

WADA strives to expand the reach and impact of anti-doping programs by enhancing capacity building, capability development, and knowledge sharing between Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) as well as enabling local program delivery. Several teams across the Agency contribute to this work, including Education, Program Development, Intelligence and Investigations, National Anti-Doping Organization/Regional Anti-Doping Organization (NADO/RADO) Relations, and the Regional Offices.

Advancing and empowering the global anti-doping workforce

In 2024, WADA’s Global Learning and Development Framework (GLDF) continued to advance the work of developing Professional Standards and Role Descriptors, which detail the core functions as well as the competencies, knowledge and skills for key roles within the global anti-doping workforce.

Professional Standards, Role Descriptors

The Professional Standards and Role Descriptors are created in collaboration with stakeholders and serve as the basis for the development of role-specific training programs and wider professional development opportunities. In 2024, WADA developed Professional Standards and Role Descriptors for the following roles: Compliance Coordinators, those responsible for anti-doping within Major Event Organizers, and Government Advisors.
GLDF Role-Specific Training

In 2024, WADA delivered a total of 17 training programs covering a variety of roles as part of the GLDF. In addition to those mentioned above, this included: Results Management, Education, TUEs, Testing, Communications, Privacy and Data Protection, and Intelligence and Investigations. Over 270 anti-doping practitioners were registered to these training programs from a total of 125 ADOs from around the world.

While WADA delivers GLDF training virtually to ensure sustainable access, additional funding enables the delivery of some in-person training. For example, as part of the renewal of the long-standing funding agreement with the Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA), WADA was able to conduct in-person trainings in addition to other NADO/RADO development initiatives in Asia and Oceania. This funding enabled the delivery of in-person training for practitioners working in Results Management, Education, and Testing and also enabled WADA to increase the number of GLDF trainers to support regional delivery and build capacity to conduct further in-person trainings in Asia/Oceania in the coming years.
GLDF - Continued development

In 2022, WADA, the European Observatoire for Sports and Employment, and seven ADOs (Anti-Doping Denmark, Doping Authority Netherlands, the French Anti-Doping Agency, National Anti-Doping Agency Austria, Polish Anti-Doping Agency, World Athletics, and World Rugby) were successful in obtaining a European Union (EU) Grant to continue developing more programs as part of the GLDF. This collaboration, known as the GLDF4CleanSport project, is funded through the EU Erasmus+ Program. In 2024, this funding enabled the surveying and mapping of the global anti-doping workforce, the development and piloting of three new training programs, and provided support for the next cohort of GLDF Trainers.

Supporting the growth of anti-doping programs worldwide

WADA’s Program Development Impact Area, which in September was merged with NADO/RADO Relations to form the new Engagement and Development Impact Area, was responsible for coordinating development initiatives with the relevant functional areas and programs, collaborating to support the growth of anti-doping programs worldwide.

Its ADO Program Assessment Framework (ADOPAF) continuously assesses the health of ADO programs from anti-doping and sports performance data, providing a high-level view of individual ADO programs and the global anti-doping landscape by identifying trends and issues. In turn, these insights create a feedback loop, helping us develop projects to address gaps and deficiencies. In 2024, using this data, WADA also launched Phase I of the ADO Benchmarking Project, enabling NADOs to analyze their own data relative to that of other organizations operating in similar contexts.

In 2024, Program Development supported the coordination of the following projects/programs:
1. Testing Programs Project for Priority ADOs
2. Continental Results Management Panels
3. Results Management Development in Latin America and the Caribbean
4. Privacy Project for Tier I ADOs
5. Major Event Anti-Doping Legacy (MEAL) Program
Testing Programs Project for Priority ADOs

This project is designed to assist priority ADOs facing issues in the development and implementation of sustainable Code-compliant testing programs. In 2024, WADA provided support to three NADOs (Mexico, Brazil, and Malaysia) to enhance their testing programs, covering all steps of the process. This includes planning (Risk Assessments and Test Distribution Plans), implementation, sample handling, and shipment.
Continental Results Management Panels

Following the creation of three Continental Results Management Panels to serve the regions of Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia/Oceania, and Africa, a capacity building program was developed to provide training to these panel members to enable them to conduct hearings in a timely manner and make decisions in accordance with the Code and International Standard for Results Management.

In 2024, the three panels were available to the 12 RADOs located in the respective regions and heard their first cases under this new program.
Results Management Development in Latin America and the Caribbean

The purpose of this project is to improve compliance with the International Standard for Results Management by Latin America and Caribbean ADOs. The main objective of the project is to reduce the proportion of Adverse Analytical Findings cases that remain open for more than 6 months. Within the framework of this project, the Latin American and Caribbean Office hosted its XIII annual Legal Seminar in Asunción, Paraguay, in June. This seminar provided targeted training on results management to 22 NADO staff members responsible for initial case review and Panel members.
Privacy Project for Tier I ADOs

This project focuses on building knowledge and capability within Tier 1 ADOs regarding their Privacy obligations, with a view to creating a network to share best practices. In 2024, 25 ADOs completed the GLDF role-specific training for anti-doping privacy practitioners, and all tier 1 ADOs were given access to a certification course provided in collaboration with the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).
Major Event Anti-Doping Legacy (MEAL) Program

The MEAL Program focuses on supporting the development of anti-doping programs and resources by Major Events Organizations and other key stakeholders, while promoting clean sport in regions of the world where anti-doping activity is otherwise limited. The goal is not just to support ADOs on the ground in real time, but also to leave behind a strong legacy for all ADOs involved to grow capacity and strengthen capabilities in the long term.

In 2024, the MEAL Program was implemented at the 2023* African Games, which were held in Accra, Ghana from 8 to 23 March 2024. At the African Games, the MEAL Program focused on:  

o   Supporting capacity building of local Sample Collection Personnel (16 Doping Control Officers [DCOs], 19 chaperones and 15 education officers) who gained experience in preparation for future involvement in the national anti-doping program;
o   Facilitating the involvement of 15 international DCOs and other experts from the continent to increase the know-how in the region and create bridges towards future editions of the Games; 
o   Strengthening the structures and operations of a new Signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code (African Union Sports Council); and
o   Deploying an advisory team during the event to support the implementation of the anti-doping program.  

*The African Games were originally scheduled to take place in August 2023.

You can find the MEAL Program Report here

Developing anti-doping program capacity through NADO/RADO Relations

WADA participates in 2024 Annual General Meeting of Caribbean RADO

In June, WADA staff from the Latin America and Caribbean Office and the NADO/RADO department attended the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Caribbean RADO. The meeting convened representatives of the Caribbean RADO’s 18 member countries. It was an opportunity for the members to evaluate the Caribbean RADO’s activities through its Annual Operational Plan, present and discuss member country activities and updates, coordinate stakeholder strategies in each country, and discuss future projects and objectives.

Director of WADA’s Latin America and Caribbean office, Francisco León, said: “WADA was pleased to be in Grenada for the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organization. The meeting offered member countries an opportunity to reflect on the past year while setting the stage for the future. Supporting regional stakeholders in developing their anti-doping programs is a key element of WADA’s mission."
Strengthening Caribbean Anti-Doping Capacity

“In January, WADA pledged to increase its financial contribution to the Caribbean. While financial support will make a tangible impact, equally important are the testing and education resources made available to the member countries in the region. Our hope is that the meeting provided representatives with additional tools and knowledge that they can implement in their respective countries.”

WADA also contributed to the capacity-building workshop that took place during the meeting, which included:
- Training sessions on risk assessment and test distribution planning;
- Preparations for the Caribbean RADO strategic cycle 2025-2030; and
- Country-specific strategic planning related to clean sport and national anti-doping programs.
RADOs are regional organizations established by member countries to coordinate and manage delegated areas of their national anti-doping programs. The RADO Program includes 12 RADOs with 119 member countries.
WADA applauds partnership between NADOs of Switzerland and Morocco

Also in June, WADA attended a signing ceremony regarding a two-year partnership agreement between Swiss Sport Integrity (SSI) and the Agence Marocaine Antidopage (AMAD).

The agreement, which was facilitated by WADA’s Africa office and signed in Rabat, Morocco, has the main objective of improving overall anti-doping capacity and expertise in Morocco. AMAD became an independent NADO in 2021, and its anti-doping program has developed significantly since that time. However, AMAD identified a need to develop even further and discussions regarding a potential partnership with SSI began in 2023.

The partnership is in line with WADA’s NADO Program, which aims to assist and support NADOs in their development and capacity building, strengthen NADO independence, and develop collaborative relations between NADOs and stakeholders.
WADA President addresses European anti-doping leaders in Belgrade

In October, members of WADA’s leadership team traveled to Belgrade, Serbia to participate in the 2nd edition of the Central and Eastern European Anti-Doping Summit. Hosted by the Antidoping Agency of Serbia, the Summit was attended by more than 60 participants from 26 different countries and focused on anti-doping topics such as collaboration between global and regional stakeholders, the 2027 Code and International Standards Update process, results management processes, cooperation with law enforcement, and improving prevention programs.

The Summit is organized by the Central European Anti-Doping Organization (CEADO), a partnership of nine NADOs from Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia that work together towards the common goal of harmonizing and strengthening the anti-doping system in the region. Since 2022, WADA and CEADO have formalized their collaboration with a memorandum of understanding, supporting continued collaboration on specific anti-doping program development activities.
WADA hosts first round of Central African region anti-doping workshops

Later in October, through WADA’s sponsorship agreement with Africa-based broadcaster SuperSport, WADA hosted the first in a series of virtual workshops for anti-doping practitioners in the Central African region. The workshops are tailored to assist countries in Central Africa in strengthening their anti-doping capacities and capabilities, and to facilitate the implementation of their anti-doping programs. The first virtual anti-doping workshop was attended by representatives from Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Chad.

The agreement with SuperSport, which was renewed in October, has facilitated the Agency’s efforts in engaging with athletes and their support personnel, raising awareness of clean sport, delivering values-based education programs, and supporting NADO/RADO program development throughout the African continent. This has notably been achievable via the funds provided through the agreement, which are invested in various anti-doping activities in Africa.
WADA renews funding agreement with Sport Integrity Australia

In September, WADA renewed its longstanding funding agreement with Sport Integrity Australia (SIA). Through the agreement, SIA will provide AUD 200,000 (approximately USD 135,000) over the next two years to support the Oceania Regional Anti-Doping Organization (ORADO). This amount is additional to Australia’s annual contribution to WADA of USD 546,097. 

The renewed funding agreement focuses on educational and capacity building activities, delivery of the Doping Control Program, and ORADO Governance and Organizational Development.

Expanding and strengthening anti-doping intelligence and investigations

Forging a better path forward for minors

In January, WADA published the findings of ‘Operation Refuge,’ a broad analysis and examination of doping amongst minors in sport, which reports in detail about the deep trauma and isolation child athletes experience following a positive test and doping sanction.

Undertaken by WADA’s Intelligence and Investigations Department (I&I), the report shines a light on the immense challenges faced by minors, their families, and the anti-doping community when a child tests positive for a prohibited substance or method. The report delivers a number of conclusions and identifies important areas for improvement on this issue, which then became items for consideration as part of the Agency’s 2027 World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards Update process.
Capacity and Capability Building Project

At WADA’s Annual Symposium in March, WADA’s Director of I&I, Günter Younger, gave a session that focused on the exceptional results stemming from WADA’s European I&I Capability and Capacity Building Project. The project, which involved collaboration between 51 ADOs and 48 law enforcement agencies in Europe, focused on reducing the prevalence of doping in sport and maximizing health benefits for young people.

The European edition of the project helped develop I&I capability and capacity in the 48 countries and the initiation of more than 100 concerted operations involving law enforcement and NADOs, such as the ones carried out in Poland and Serbia, among others. Overall, these operations dismantled 25 illicit laboratories and resulted in the seizure of 25 tons of performance enhancing drugs totaling an estimated 500 million doses.
Expanding Anti-Doping I&I Project to Asia and Oceania

Mr. Younger said: “The impact and effectiveness of the European I&I Capability and Capacity Building Project cannot be understated. We look forward to continuing to build on the accomplishments of the project in Europe and to the continued expansion of this impactful project in the years to come.”

Building off the massive success of the Project in Europe, WADA officially expanded the initiative to the Asia and Oceania region in March 2025, with the first workshop being held in Australia. The next two workshops were held in Saudi Arabia and India, with a second India workshop and two workshops in Thailand to follow, concluding in a final conference in India in April 2026. This expansion is the next step in the creation of a Global Anti-Doping Intelligence and Investigations Network.
WADA leads collaborative sessions to strengthen anti-doping intelligence and investigations

In May, WADA’s I&I Department hosted the 3rd annual meeting of the Sport Human Intelligence Network (SHIN), a network of confidential human source handlers from across the anti-doping community.

In October, the Department hosted the eighth annual session of the Anti-Doping Intelligence and Investigations Network (ADIIN) Expert Group.

The respective sessions, both of which were held at the Agency’s headquarters in Montreal, involved participants from NADOs, International Federations, the International Testing Agency, and WADA I&I and discussed emerging issues in intelligence, human source handling, and investigations. Participants shared their experiences and reflected on how to further strengthen the anti-doping process.

The outcomes of the meetings have since been reviewed by the SHIN and ADIIN steering committees and shared with the relevant drafting teams for the 2027 Code and International Standards Update Process.

Be Athlete Centered

Athletes have always played a central role at WADA and their influence on anti-doping policy and governance has grown significantly since the Athlete Engagement Impact Area has been solidified into WADA’s organizational model. In 2024 we continued to hone the ways by which we collaborate and consult with athletes to ensure that their feedback is transformed into actionable opportunities to improve their anti-doping experience.

WADA’s ‘Be Athlete Centered’ priority of the Agency’s Strategic Plan involves:

o   engaging and empowering athletes to contribute to the development of anti-doping policies;
o   building an easier anti-doping journey for athletes; and
o   gaining the trust and support of athletes in the anti-doping system.

To deliver on WADA’s priority to “Be Athlete Centered,” we worked in close collaboration with the Athlete Council to carry out several athlete-centered initiatives, including engaging the athlete community on the 2027 Code and International Standard Update Process and progressing athlete-centered projects such as the Athletes’ Anti-Doping Ombuds Program and the Initial Human Rights Impact Assessment. 2024 also saw the development of more tailored e-learning content for athletes and meaningful athlete engagement at several major events.

Athlete Council

2024 was the second year of WADA’s Athlete Council, a Permanent Special Committee that represents, supports, and promotes the voices of athletes on anti-doping matters. The Council is composed of athletes’ representatives chosen by athletes.

Ryan Pini, Athlete Council Chair and Executive Committee member, and Gaby Ahrens, Athlete Council Vice-Chair, shared some of the Athlete Council’s 2024 highlights, including important meeting outcomes related to the Ombuds program, the Initial Human Rights Impact Assessment, and the Athlete Council’s 2024-2025 Action Plan. See what Ryan and Gaby had to say about 2024.

Governance Matters

In December, WADA announced the eight athletes who were elected to WADA’s Athlete Council Group 2*. We launched the Preliminary Phase of the election in September by inviting all eligible International Federation (IF) Athlete Commissions (ACs) that are Signatories to the Code to present candidates. In November, the Agency announced the 26 candidates who were running for election. The election was available only to IF ACs that were registered and deemed eligible to vote—55 out of these 60 IF ACs voted (91.7% participation rate).

*Learn more about the composition of the Athlete Council

The eight athlete members elected in December are listed below in alphabetical order by last name:

WADA's Athlete Council strengthens Representation across committees

Athlete Council members continue to bring the athlete voice to several WADA committees and working groups. In 2024, Ryan Pini continued his mandate on the Executive Committee while Yuhan Tan and Patrick O’Leary served on the Foundation Board.

Furthermore, in 2024, members of the Athlete Council also sat on the Education Committee (Dora Hegyi) as well as the Finance and Administration Committee (Kristen Kit). An athlete representative for the Compliance Review Committee (Renae Domaschenz) has been endorsed by the Athlete Council and contributed to WADA’s compliance work. Athlete Council members are also invited to join relevant working groups as those are developed and implemented. Looking ahead, an Athlete Council member will join the Health, Medical and Research Committee early in 2025.

Athlete Relations and Communications

One of WADA’s key objectives this year was to increase and improve communication to and for athletes. To this end, WADA’s Athlete Engagement team created an email address (athlete@wada-ama.org) for athletes to reach out to WADA and the Athlete Council. The team also launched, in July, the first of what is intended to be a regular athlete communication. In this message to athletes, WADA outlines its commitments to the athlete community, reflects on the first half of 2024, and provides an overview of what is in store for the rest of the year.

In collaboration with the Athlete Council, WADA also held webinars, participated in athlete forums and developed written communications to ensure athletes were informed on topical matters. For example, in the lead up to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, the Athlete Engagement team and the Athlete Council collaborated to develop Questions and Answers to respond to the most common questions being asked around the level of testing and education that athletes who qualify to compete in the Games can expect to receive.
Engaging athletes on Code and Standards Update Process

Additionally, regarding the Code and International Standard Update Process, WADA worked to encourage athlete participation in this important process. While WADA increased its communication around this via social media, it also delivered a dedicated webinar on this topic where over 200 athletes participated. Leveraging athlete feedback received during this webinar, WADA committed to implementing a more athlete-centered mechanism for athletes to provide feedback on the Code and International Standards in 2025.

Athletes’ Anti-Doping Ombuds

In September, the ExCo approved the continuation of the Athletes’ Anti-Doping Ombuds Program. The Ombuds Program, which was championed by WADA’s former Athlete Committee, began as a pilot project with Ms. Anna Thorstenson having been appointed in March 2023 for an initial 12-month term. At its meeting in March, the ExCo agreed to extend Ms. Thorstenson’s contract and agreed to consider the longer-term future of the Program. At the September ExCo meeting, Ms. Thorstenson presented her final pilot project report, and given the success of the project, WADA’s Director of Athlete Engagement Karine Henrie proposed an approach for the Ombuds Program to continue, which was approved by the ExCo.

Athlete Council Chair Ryan Pini said during the ExCo meeting: “The anti-doping system can be complex, and we believe it is important for athletes all around the world to have access to a free, confidential, neutral and independent source of information and guidance. The Athletes’ Anti-Doping Ombuds is filling that need and is making an important contribution to improving athletes’ experience of and trust in the system. I thank the other members of the Executive Committee for supporting this initiative and I look forward to seeing this program grow in profile and importance in the coming years as WADA continues to fulfil its strategic priority of putting athletes at the center of what we do.”
Webinars on the Ombuds Program

To promote the services of the Ombuds, WADA hosted two webinars regarding the Ombuds Program. In June, Ms. Thorstenson delivered the webinar in English alongside Athlete Council Vice-Chair Gaby Ahrens. In November, she delivered the webinar in Spanish alongside two members of WADA’s Latin America and Caribbean Office. In addition, videos introducing the Ombuds and the services the program offers were developed and used to raise awareness with athletes.

Learn more about the Ombuds

Athlete Education

Athlete education is an integral part of the athlete anti-doping journey. The International Standard for Education recognizes that athletes should have their first experience with anti-doping through education rather than doping control and that the topics and content of education should be adapted and tailored to meet the needs of the target audience.

In line with these principles, in 2024, WADA launched the following athlete-centered content on the Agency’s Anti-Doping Education and Learning platform (ADEL):

1. ADEL for Paris 2024 Paralympic Games (ADEL for Paris 2024 Olympic Games launched in October 2023)

2. E-learning course and downloadable resources targeting youth athletes:

The course features Athlete Council members Ryan Pini, Dora Hegyi, and Adriana Escobar, who share their personal experiences with competing clean and encourage athletes to help create a fair and positive sporting environment for everyone.
The downloadable resources were created by a Working Group of the Education Committee, which included Dora Hegyi.

3. Cannabinoids factsheet for athletes and athlete support personnel

4. Athlete and Athlete Support Personnel Guide to the 2025 Prohibited List

Athlete Engagement at events

WADA’s Athlete Engagement at events is geared towards raising awareness about clean sport while engaging athletes and their support personnel to get involved and be part of the solution. In 2024, WADA’s Athlete Engagement program continued to have a global reach. Its athlete-led teams ran booths with interactive activities at five events held in four different regions of the world, engaging with thousands of athletes.

2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games

19 January-1 February | Gangwon, Republic of Korea

2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games

19 January-1 February | Gangwon, Republic of Korea

Clare Egan, a two-time Olympic biathlete from the US and former Chair of the IBU Athlete Commission and member of WADA’s Athlete Council, was a member of the athlete-led engagement team at the 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games. She said: “Gangwon 2024 [was] an important opportunity for WADA to connect with young athletes and their entourages. For many of the young athletes competing, this [was] their first exposure to international competition. It is our responsibility to ensure that they are aware of the expectations that come with participating in elite sport, and the anti-doping resources that are available to them […]”

See news article
2023* African Games

8-23 March | Accra, Ghana

2023* African Games

8-23 March | Accra, Ghana

See news article

See photo gallery

*The African Games were originally scheduled to take place in August 2023.
2024 CARIFTA Games

30 March-1 April | St. George’s, Grenada

2024 CARIFTA Games

30 March-1 April | St. George’s, Grenada

Mikel Thomas, a two-time Pan American Games medalist, Olympic hurdler, and national record holder from Trinidad and Tobago, was a member of the athlete-led engagement team at the 2024 CARIFTA Games. Mr. Thomas said: “WADA has consistently championed the importance of engaging with young athletes and their entourage as early as possible. An event like the CARIFTA Games, where all the athletes competing are under 20 years old, represents an exceptional opportunity to address youth elite athletes from the Caribbean region in a welcoming setting.”

See news article
2024 Olympic Games

26 July-11 August | Paris, France

2024 Olympic Games

26 July-11 August | Paris, France

Adriana Escobar, former international rower, and current member of WADA’s Athlete Council, was a member of the athlete-led engagement team at the 2024 Olympic Games. Ms. Escobar said: “Nearly a decade ago, I was an athlete being exposed to the anti-doping process for the first time and a similar WADA Athlete Engagement program was made available to me. The interactions that I had with those who had been in my position before put me at ease. That’s why this program is so important. This kind of resource can make a marked impact on an athlete’s experience at the Games and also as they navigate their anti-doping rights and responsibilities in the future.”

See news article

See photo gallery
2024 Paralympic Games

28 August-8 September | Paris, France

2024 Paralympic Games

28 August-8 September | Paris, France

Ivan Ćosić, a World ParaVolley Athlete Representative and a member of WADA’s Athlete Council, was a member of the athlete-led engagement team at the 2024 Paralympic Games. Mr. Ćosić said: “In my view, speaking to athletes directly is the best way for them to share their experiences with the anti-doping process and WADA’s Athlete Engagement program is set up to make this happen.”

See news article

See photo gallery

Collaborate and Unite

WADA seeks to engage all stakeholders to protect clean sport by working with Code Signatories, Public Authorities, experts, and other stakeholders for a unified and coherent global anti-doping system. WADA’s Stakeholder Liaison Departments, which include Government Relations, Sport Movement Relations, and the Regional Offices, are instrumental to this work.

At a governance level, collaboration is key. WADA’s many Committees, Expert Advisory Groups and Working Groups contribute significantly to the development of the global anti-doping system. WADA is grateful to the members of each of these groups, all of whom graciously volunteer their time and expertise for the collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport.

Stakeholder Engagement

Members of WADA leadership, including President Witold Bańka, Vice-President Yang Yang, and Director General Olivier Niggli, frequently meet with government officials, sport leaders and Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) across the globe, both in bilateral meetings and multilateral forums. These meetings are key opportunities for exchange—for WADA to hear from its stakeholders about the anti-doping landscape in their region, the work they are conducting, and the challenges they are facing, as well as for WADA to update stakeholders on its priorities and activities. Above all, these are opportunities to promote the need for continued collaboration and harmonization of anti-doping rules, policies, and regulations between governments, sport leaders and ADOs worldwide and for stakeholders to strengthen their commitment to protecting clean sport.

Governments

Governments are essential stakeholders to WADA’s mission. They provide funding for National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs), contribute financially to WADA itself, adopt anti-doping policies, and establish the necessary legal frameworks to support anti-doping. While 2024 marked WADA’s 25th anniversary, it also marked the 35th anniversary of the Council of Europe Anti-Doping Convention, which laid the foundation for the global anti-doping system that exists today.
Strengthening anti-doping across the Caribbean

In January, WADA President Witold Bańka traveled to Kingston, Jamaica, where he called on Ministers of Sport and other Government representatives from countries in the Caribbean to amplify their collective actions and voices across the Americas region. The WADA forum, graciously co-hosted by the Government of Jamaica, featured representatives from eight countries, including Sports Ministers, Secretaries of State, and the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organization (RADO). During the Forum, the Governments present signed the ‘Kingston Declaration’, further cementing their desire to protect clean sport in the Caribbean region. Other significant outcomes of the forum were WADA’s pledge of additional resources to facilitate more anti-doping activities in the region and agreement to change the name of its regional office to include “Caribbean”.
WADA leadership plays key role at Asia/Oceania Region Intergovernmental Ministerial Meeting in Uzbekistan

In May, WADA traveled to Tashkent, Uzbekistan for the 19th Asia/Oceania Region Intergovernmental Ministerial Meeting on Anti-Doping in Sport. It was attended by Government Ministers, Public Authorities, and NADO representatives from 34 countries, as well as RADO representatives from across the region. WADA President Witold Bańka, Vice-President Yang Yang, Director General Olivier Niggli, and the Director of WADA’s Asia/Oceania Office, YaYa Yamamoto, were all present at the meeting, during which they encouraged the participating countries to take bigger strides in bolstering their anti-doping programs.
WADA President holds productive meetings with stakeholders in Southern Africa

In June, WADA President Witold Bańka spent a week in Africa to meet with anti-doping stakeholders, partners, and government leaders in Botswana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. His meetings included discussions on the importance of collaboration between the Public Authorities and representatives of the Sport Movement, the need to consider solutions within the African context, and building anti-doping capacity and infrastructure. Mr. Bańka also met with representatives from SuperSport, WADA’s African-based broadcasting partner, focusing on capitalizing on specific opportunities as part of the partnership and its potential extension in the years to come. Mr. Bańka was joined by the Director of WADA’s Africa Office, Rodney Swigelaar, in his meetings.
WADA renews agreements for hosting of its Africa Office in Cape Town

In October, WADA announced that its Africa Office would continue to be hosted in Cape Town, after renewing agreements with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture of the Republic of South Africa and the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport. The Office has been in Cape Town since 2003.

WADA’s Africa Office Director, Rodney Swigelaar, said: “We are confident that with the renewal of these hosting agreements, the South African authorities will continue to assist and support our efforts with the necessary recognition and tools that will allow us to carry on our work on the African continent for all athletes. We look forward to ongoing collaboration with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport over the coming years and thank all involved for the support provided to our staff and for our programs.”
WADA leaders address sport ministers at inaugural forum in Samoa

Also in October, members of WADA’s leadership team traveled to Apia, Samoa, for the inaugural WADA forum for Ministers Responsible for Sport in Oceania. The forum, which was co-hosted by the Government of Samoa, was attended by representatives from 15 countries, including eight sport ministers. During the forum, WADA President Witold Bańka emphasized the importance of Governments being proactive in supporting their countries’ anti-doping activities. The forum concluded with the signing of the ‘Apia Declaration,’ in which participants pledged to support WADA’s global collaborative movement for doping-free sport, increase anti-doping capacity, and positively influence clean sport policy in the Oceania region.

Sport Movement

The Sport Movement maintains an equal partnership with Governments of the world to form the foundation and operation of WADA’s governance and funding model. WADA collaborates with the various Sport Movement bodies that regulate and promote sports around the world, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), International Federations (IFs), National Olympic Committees, National Paralympic Committees, Major Event Organizations, and the International Testing Agency (ITA). Much like its interactions with Public Authorities, WADA leadership holds frequent bilateral meetings and multilateral forums with sports leaders around the world.
WADA President addresses Sport Movement leaders at 2024 SportAccord Summit

In April, members of WADA leadership traveled to Birmingham, United Kingdom, for the SportAccord World Sport & Business Summit 2024, where they met with leaders from the Sport Movement to discuss plans for upcoming major events from a clean sport perspective, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games for Paris 2024 and Milano Cortina 2026.

The annual Summit convenes 1,500 sport leaders and key decision makers from more than 120 IFs, the IOC, and organizations involved in the business of sport. President Bańka was in attendance to meet with stakeholders from around the world and update them on WADA’s activities. Over the course of the Summit, he addressed the Winter Olympic Federations’ General Assembly; spoke to participants attending a workshop presented by WADA and the Association of IOC Recognized International Sports Federations; delivered a speech during the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations’ 48th General Assembly; and, spoke during the Alliance of Independent Recognized Members of Sport and United Through Sport forum.
WADA President delivers update on Agency’s activities to 142nd IOC Session

In July, President Bańka delivered a speech to the 142nd IOC Session, held in Paris, France during which he welcomed the strong and unequivocal support for WADA and its clean sport mission that was provided by the IOC, United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee, the local organizing committee of Salt Lake City 2034, and the Governor of the U.S. state of Utah. Mr. Bańka also addressed the IOC Session to brief IOC members on WADA’s activities, in particular those related to preparations for the 2024 Paris Games.
WADA collaborates with anti-doping partners to promote clean sport at 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games

In 2024, WADA Leadership traveled to France for the 2024 Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, alongside the Agency’s Athlete Engagement and Independent Observer teams. Over the course of the Games, WADA collaborated with the IOC, the IPC, the French Olympic and Paralympic Committees, the local organizing committee of Paris 2024, the French NADO (AFLD) and the ITA.
WADA President addresses sport organization leaders at SportAccord IF Forum

In October, President Bańka delivered a speech to the leaders of IFs from around the world at the SportAccord IF Forum 2024, which was held in Lausanne, Switzerland. The annual forum convened over 350 sport leaders and key decision makers from more than 120 IFs and the IOC. In line with the theme of this year’s forum, ‘Ensuring your International Federation is match fit and future ready,’ Mr. Bańka emphasized the need for IFs to properly support and resource their personnel so that they can effectively manage their anti-doping programs.

WADA Events

WADA Annual Symposium and 25th Anniversary Gala

On 12-13 March, WADA convened its 2024 Annual Symposium in Lausanne, Switzerland, which brought together almost 1,100 participants from the global anti-doping community under the theme ‘One Mission—One Team’.

The event opened with a keynote address by President Witold Bańka and a presentation by Director General Olivier Niggli that were followed by 15 interactive sessions delivered by anti-doping stakeholders in close collaboration with WADA representatives.

The first day of the Symposium closed with WADA’s 25th Anniversary Gala during which Symposium attendees and other invited guests came together to celebrate WADA's first quarter century, the accomplishments of the global anti-doping community, and some of its key contributors.
Global Education Conference

In February, WADA welcomed a record number of participants to the 2024 Global Education Conference (GEC) at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France. The event was hosted by the Agence française de lutte contre le dopage (AFLD) and welcomed more than 400 participants from around the globe. The GEC brought together anti-doping practitioners, researchers, government officials, and athletes to discuss emerging trends, contribute to the global education agenda, share practice to support education program development, and examine how education can continue to further anti-doping efforts internationally.

WADA’s Director of Education, Amanda Hudson, commented on the success of the event:

“This year’s Global Education Conference was about harnessing the work carried out by the anti-doping community over the past few years into a common education agenda. With the mandate from the 2022 GEC and the momentum of this year's conference, we are well on the way to formally identifying how we as a community can fully realize the potential of education for the good of clean sport. With the diverse and engaged audience in attendance, the level of discussion and the willingness to share and work collaboratively, we couldn’t be more enthusiastic about the outcomes, and we are already looking forward to the next edition of the GEC.”
Social Science Research Symposium

Held in connection with the GEC, WADA also hosted a Social Science Research (SSR) Symposium, which served as a mechanism to facilitate conversations and inspire collaboration between researchers and practitioners from the anti-doping community. The event was held at l’Université Côte d’Azur in Nice, France, and was attended by more than 50 participants from the anti-doping SSR community, representing some 30 countries.

The SSR Symposium centered around bridging the gap between research and practice/policy through knowledge exchange; building a research community involving academics, practitioners, and policymakers; and exploring ways to work more effectively and in partnership, to support athletes and protect clean sport.
Play True Day 2024 – Celebrating 25 years as One Play True Team!

Our 2024 Play True Day digital campaign saw enthusiastic participation from across the global anti-doping community. The 2024 campaign asked athletes, National and Regional Anti-Doping Organizations, Sports Federations, Governments, Major Event Organizers and other stakeholders from the global anti-doping community to join WADA in celebrating 25 years as One Play True Team. This year generated nearly 259,200 social media engagements¹.

(1) Total likes, retweets and comments and such interactions on a social media post

World Anti-Doping Program

The World Anti-Doping Program—comprised of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code), International Standards (Standards), and Guidelines—is the backbone of our work and enables us to harmonize anti-doping rules and policies across all sports and countries. These are all living documents and thus are updated as needed, always in consultation with stakeholders. In turn, as the global regulatory body for anti-doping in sport, WADA is responsible for monitoring effective implementation of and compliance with the Code and Standards by Code Signatories and also for ensuring global harmonization of sanctions and equal treatment for athletes.

2027 World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards Update

The 2027 World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards Update Process (2027 Code & IS Update Process), which was first launched in September 2023, progressed according to schedule over the course of 2024:

In January, WADA launched the First Drafting Phase, during which the drafting teams worked on reviewing and integrating stakeholder feedback regarding the Concept Papers.
In May, WADA launched the Stakeholder Consultation Phase, during which stakeholders were invited to provide feedback on the first drafts of the Code and International Standards.
Finally, in October, WADA launched the Second Drafting Phase, during which the drafting teams worked on reviewing and integrating stakeholder feedback regarding the first drafts.

The 2027 Code & IS Update Process is part of WADA’s commitment to facilitate periodic collaborative review processes to ensure the documents remain fit for purpose. In the interest of transparency, all comments received during the stakeholder consultation phases have been published on WADA’s website along with the clean and redline drafts and summaries of major changes.

The two-year, multi-phase process, is summarized in the 2027 Code & International Standards Update Process – Timelines & Key Phases document and is also outlined below:

Consideration of stakeholders’ feedback on the Code and Standards;
Circulation of drafts of proposed amendments to the Code and Standards;
Final versions of the Code and Standards being presented for approval at the sixth World Conference on Doping in Sport, to be held in December 2025 in Busan, Republic of Korea; and
Updated 2027 Code and Standards, entering into effect on 1 January 2027.

More information regarding the 2027 Code and Standards Update Process is available on our Code Review webpage.

List of Prohibited Substances and Methods

In September 2024, following our usual, extensive stakeholder consultation process with some of the most qualified experts in the fields of science and medicine from around the world, WADA’s Executive Committee (ExCo) approved the 2025 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods (List). The List was then published on 25 September, along with the 2025 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes and the 2025 Monitoring Program. As is customary, the new List came into effect 1 January 2025.

Guidelines

Guidelines provide Signatories with recommended practices for several aspects of anti-doping. These Guidelines are not mandatory, but they offer technical guidance to Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) in the implementation of programs in line with the Code and Standards. As with the Code and Standards, the Guidelines are subject to ongoing review and reassessment.

In March 2024, WADA published an updated version of its Guidance Note regarding Substances of Abuse under the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code, which was first published in January 2021. The Guidance Note was updated to include:

o   guidance for the evaluation of diamorphine (heroin) Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs);
o   additional notes for the interpretation of cocaine AAFs;
o   background information on diamorphine, cocaine, and tetrahydrocannabinol; and
o   scientific literature to support the interpretation of the results.
Guidelines

Also in March, WADA published Guidelines for Implementing the Technical Document for Sport Specific Analysis. These Guidelines replace the TDSSA Supporting Document A - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and will assist ADOs in implementing the TDSSA requirements, providing practical examples and suggestions. The TDSSA is a mandatory Level 2 document that must be implemented by all ADOs that are Signatories to the Code.

In May, WADA published updated Guidelines for Major Events, which support the Code and Standards to better equip ADOs when preparing and implementing anti-doping programs in the lead-up to a major event. While the Guidelines reference the specific roles and responsibilities of Major Event Organizations (MEOs) under the Code, they can also be used by other ADOs and stakeholders for single sport major games, such as a world, continental, or regional championships.
Technical Documents + Letters

Under the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL), WADA issues Technical Documents (TDs) and Technical Letters (TLs) to provide direction to WADA-accredited laboratories, WADA-approved laboratories for the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP), and other stakeholders. TDs provide direction on specific technical or procedural issues whereas TLs provide direction on particular issues related to the analysis, interpretation, and reporting of results or on the application of specific laboratory procedures. The implementation of the requirements of TDs and TLs is mandatory for obtaining and maintaining WADA accreditation or approval as applicable.

In 2024, WADA published updated versions of the following TDs and TLs:

Compliance

As the global regulatory body for anti-doping in sports, one of WADA’s primary roles is to monitor Code Signatories’ compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) and International Standards. This monitoring is achieved through WADA’s Compliance Monitoring Program, which in 2024, included the Code Compliance Questionnaire (CCQ), compliance audits and reviews of anti-doping rules, regulations, and national legislation.

In 2024, over 200 Signatories underwent a compliance assessment and/or received support through the following compliance monitoring activities:

56 Tier 3 Signatories completed the CCQ and were issued with a Corrective Action Report (CAR). Additionally, 136 Tier 4 Signatories received a shorter version of the CCQ with 69 receiving a CAR by the end of 2024. The CCQ enables Signatories to report on their adherence to the 2021 Code.
During the year, WADA conducted 11 compliance audits, all on Tier 1 Signatories, comprising 10 full audits and one partial audit on results management for a National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO). Eight audits were conducted on NADOs and three on International Federations (IFs), with ten audits conducted in person and one virtually.
WADA reviewed 322 sets of anti-doping rules and/or national legislation from 71 Code Signatories. 15 countries adopted national anti-doping legislation that complies with the Code.

Key findings from 2024 compliance monitoring program Open Close

The following are some of the key findings from the 2024 compliance monitoring program:

CCQ

Tier 3 NADOs reported an average of 27.4 non-conformities per CAR, with testing activities accounting for the largest share at 39%.
For Tier 3 IFs, education emerged as the largest share of non-conformities (32%) with an average of 23.6 non-conformities per CAR.

Compliance audits

The average number of non-conformities per audit decreased from 27 in 2023 to 25.2 in 2024. While critical non-conformities remained unchanged, high priority non-conformities saw a 33% reduction.
Results management represented the largest portion of audit-related non-conformities at 35%, with 58% of these being classified as critical.

Anti-doping rules, regulations and legislation review

The total number of rules and legislation reviews dropped 2% from 330 in 2023 to 322 in 2024.
The number of new or amended national legislation submissions saw 26 countries submitting legislation for review in 2024, up from 25 in 2023.
Seven countries required amendments to existing legislation to ensure compliance with the Code.

2024 Compliance procedures Open Close

In 2024, 26 compliance procedures were initiated against 24 Signatories, a significant decrease from the 108 compliance procedures initiated against 88 Signatories in 2023. This reduction is attributed primarily to the nearing completion of the CCQ exercise. Notably, 81% of these procedures were resolved without escalation to the Compliance Review Committee (CRC).
The Executive Committee endorsed 20 recommendations from the CRC, up from 16 when compared to 2023.
16 Signatories were placed on the “watchlist,” up from 11 in 2023. All watchlist cases were related to either the implementation of testing programs or rules and/or legislation.
Four Signatories were declared non-compliant in 2024: the NADOs of Cameroon, Angola, Tunisia and the IF Pelota Basque. At the end of 2024, four Signatories remained non-compliant: the NADOs of Cameroon, Russia, the International Federation for Fitness and Bodybuilding and the IF Pelota Basque.

International Standards for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS) Open Close

In 2024, a revised version of the ISCCS was implemented. This was the first significant review of the ISCCS since its implementation in 2018, incorporating lessons learned from the Russian doping incident and other operational insights. The ISCCS is subject to further stakeholder consultation ahead of 2027. WADA also updated its Compliance Strategy to reflect the latest changes to WADA’s programs and objectives.

Summary

The year 2024 was busy for the Agency as it continued to monitor compliance among its Code Signatories. Although the number of compliance procedures decreased compared to 2023, there was an increase in cases reviewed by the CRC and in the number of recommendations subsequently endorsed by the Executive Committee. This increase was primarily due to two factors: the outcomes of the Tier 3 CCQ assessments and challenges in implementing effective testing programs, along with instances of non-compliant national anti-doping legislation.

Independent Observer Programs

WADA’s Independent Observer (IO) program, which complements the Compliance Monitoring Program of Major Event Organizations, helps enhance athlete and public confidence at major sporting events by monitoring and reporting on all phases of the doping control and results management processes.

In 2024, WADA’s IO program was present at the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris, France.

In 2024, WADA also published the IO reports from the following events:

1.   2023 European Games
2.   2022* Asian Games
3.   2023 Pan American Games

Testing

In April 2024, WADA published its 2022 Testing Figures Report, which summarizes the results of all the samples WADA-accredited laboratories analyzed and reported in ADAMS in 2022.

The 2022 Report, which includes an Executive Summary and sub-reports by Laboratory, Sport, Testing Authority and Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) Blood Analysis, includes in- and out-of-competition urine samples, blood and ABP blood data, and the resulting Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) and Atypical Findings (ATFs).
Highlights from 2022 Testing Figures Report
- A 6.4% increase in the total number of samples (including urine, non-ABP blood and dried blood spot samples) analyzed and reported into ADAMS in 2022 (256,770) vs. 2021 (241,430);
- An increase in the total percentage of AAFs year on year;
- An increase in the total number of samples analyzed and reported by most WADA-accredited laboratories and WADA-approved laboratories into ADAMS in 2022 vs 2021.
- An increase in the total number and percentage of non-ABP blood and DBS samples analyzed in 2022.
- An increase of 1.4% in the number of ABP blood samples analyzed in 2022.
- An increase in the total number of AAFs and % AAF for ERAs [including erythropoietin (EPO) and other EPO-receptor agonists], GHRFs and GC/C/IRMS tests in 2022.

Results Management

WADA reviews all decisions rendered by Signatories worldwide, and files appeals where appropriate to ensure global harmonization of the sanctions and equal treatment for athletes, regardless of where they come from or what sport they compete in.

Under the Code, WADA is also responsible for taking decisions on other types of cases, including those concerning retired athletes who seek to return to competition (11 cases in 2024), suspended athletes who provide substantial assistance and are seeking a partial suspension of their period of ineligibility (11 cases) and case resolution agreement requests (33 cases).

In 2024, WADA was notified of 3,199 decisions rendered by Code Signatories (including 314 decisions relating to individual decisions not to record individual whereabouts failures).

WADA reviewed more than 268 case files.
Anti-Doping appeal cases

Of these, WADA filed 28 appeals and was the respondent in 2 other cases. Of these 30 cases, 29 have been lodged with CAS and 1 with a national-level appeal body (Egypt).

Of the 29 CAS cases:
- WADA was the appellant in 25 cases
- WADA was the respondent in 2 cases
- 2 cases were compliance cases (Nigeria and Venezuela)
By the end of 2024, 8 of these 30 cases had been adjudicated (7 by CAS and 1 by the Egyptian Appeal Body). The remaining 22 cases were still pending with CAS, including 1 case where WADA was the respondent.

Notes:

¹Spanish ABP cases: WADA filed further appeals against the national decisions
²National Appeal decision; WADA filed a further appeal with CAS
³Sanction significantly increased further to WADA’s appeal
⁴Athlete did not pay the advance of costs
Appeal cases prior to 2024

In addition, in 2024, WADA received the outcomes of 15 cases for appeals WADA filed prior to 2024 (13 decisions from CAS and two decisions from the Kenyan Appeal Body).

Notes:

¹ Including one handled by the Kenyan Tribunal
²Reflecting WADA’s initial submissions; can be classified as 4 upheld and 1 partially upheld
³One based on new evidence provided during CAS proceedings and one in Valieva Case; WADA’s appeal against the lack of timely decision rendered by RUSADA’s panel became moot after the latter issued its decision, against which WADA filed an appeal which was ultimately upheld
⁴ Including one by the Kenyan Tribunal; WADA filed a further appeal with CAS against this national decision

Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA)

The two-year period of consequences contained in the CAS decision regarding RUSADA’s non-compliance came to an end on 17 December 2022. Consistent with feedback from the independent Compliance Review Committee and the Executive Committee, WADA intends (when circumstances permit) to conduct an in-person audit of RUSADA in order to assess inter alia whether the conditions of reinstatement as laid out by the CAS decision are met. In the meantime, RUSADA remains non-compliant with the Code.

Separately, a distinct critical non-conformity was identified related to inconsistencies between the federal Russian sports legislation and the Code during an audit. At its meeting on 22 September 2023, the ExCo accepted the CRC’s recommendation to impose on RUSADA new consequences and reinstatement conditions. As announced on 17 November 2023, RUSADA did not accept this decision, and the matter is now pending before CAS. WADA is working with RUSADA and the Russian authorities towards the adoption of a revised federal sports law that is compliant with the Code.

Meanwhile, WADA’s Operation LIMS investigation into the data and samples retrieved by WADA Intelligence and Investigations from the Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory in 2019 continues to deliver results:

280* cases have successfully resulted in convictions, with more expected as all cases are followed up.
Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated in a further 29* cases.
13* are still under investigation by the applicable ADO (in many of these cases, ADOs are consulting lab experts to determine whether sufficient evidence is available to move forward).

*These numbers are correct as of 13 August 2025.

2024 Financial Overview

In 2024, WADA successfully delivered on its priorities, remaining resilient in the face of financial constraints as outlined below. This success was made possible through collaboration with and financial support from our stakeholders and we are grateful for their continued commitment to WADA’s mission for doping-free sport.

Contributions Open Close

WADA ended 2024 with a total income of USD 45.4 million. The total contributions from Public Authorities (PAs) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reached USD 39.8 million, falling short by USD 10.2 million against the combined budgets of USD 50 million. PAs contributed 78% of their budgeted funding.

The shortfall primarily stemmed from the United States of America (USA) withholding its 2024 contribution of USD 3.6 million. As it relates to the Russian Federation, the Agency received a partial payment of USD 53,200 for their 2023 contribution; however, there remains a significant pending contribution from Russia of USD 1.2 million for 2023 and USD 1.3 million for 2024, which continues to be delayed due to strict international banking sanctions against the Federation. WADA continues to monitor the situation closely.

In 2024, WADA received USD 689,000 from PAs for contributions related to previous years.

Montreal International, the organization that hosts WADA’s headquarters in Montreal, remitted USD 2.53 million against a budget of USD 2.44 million. Due to timing, residual payment from the previous year was resolved in early 2024. The hosting agreement was renewed in 2019 for a further 10-year term from 2022 to 2031.

WADA received USD 1.88 million through its Information Technology (IT) partnership with Sword Group (a world-leader in IT and digital transformation), marking the first full year of the five-year agreement.

Additional contributions amounting to USD 194,000 were received from the Governments of Australia and Japan, as well as from the City of Lausanne and Canton de Vaud (in Switzerland).

Following the successful financial audit of the European Union Intelligence & Investigation Capability and Capacity Building project, WADA received a final amount of USD 471,000 upon the project’s completion in June 2024. This final contribution brought the total funding for the project received over the two-year period to more than USD 1.5 million.

WADA also received funding of USD 70,800 from the European Observatoire of Sport and Employment for the Global Learning and Development Framework for Clean Sport (GLDF4CLEANSPORT) Erasmus+ project, which was led by the Education department. WADA, in collaboration with its trusted partners, has successfully navigated the shortfall in 2024 contributions from PAs, along with its impact on the Sport Movement matching contributions. While efforts to fully compensate for the income gap remain ongoing, our financially responsible approach to adjusting expenditures, as detailed in the next section, has helped mitigate the operating deficit.

Operating Results Open Close

Closing the year at USD 49.3 million in operating expenses against USD 45.4 million in actual income, WADA registered a net deficit of USD 3.1 million. Overall, the operating expenses accounted for 91% of the projected 2024 budget.

The operating results reflect a gap between the operating expenses and net deficit, primarily due to the significant annual depreciation costs associated with ADAMS. In September 2023, we signed a partnership deal with Sword, committing to an investment of USD 4.3 million per year over the next five years in ADAMS development. This represents a 95% increase over previous years in capital expenditure investments, leading to a corresponding rise in depreciation expenses for 2024 and over the coming years. This strategic investment supports long-term commitment to and innovation of ADAMS but will continue to impact financial results until the benefits materialize.

As the year progressed and uncertainty around US funding increased, WADA initiated several cost reduction measures, particularly in the second half of the year. Cutting back on travel and in-person events and meetings yielded significant savings, despite 2024 being an Olympic and Paralympic year. WADA maintained key annual meetings and events, including the Agency’s Annual Symposium in Lausanne in March, which most participants attended in person. Other important meetings, such as the September Executive Committee (ExCo) meeting and the December ExCo and Foundation Board meetings, were graciously hosted by the governments of Türkiye and Saudi Arabia respectively. Overall, in 2024, travel and accommodation were recorded at USD 3.1 million, representing about a 12% (or 425,000) decrease compared to the previous year.

Scientific and Social Science Research expenditure reached USD 3.2 million in 2024, an increase of USD 1.1 million from the previous year, attributed to the timing differences in research project applications and payments. The 2024 Scientific Research Grant Program received a total of 65 full applications, of which 27 were approved, amounting to USD 2.37 million. An additional USD 1.33 million was approved for 12 targeted projects and a further USD 500,000 is provisionally set aside for targeted projects designed to synthesize priority reference materials. Accounting for related coordination meetings and reviews, the total commitment to scientific research projects amounted to USD 3.8 million against a budget of USD 4.5 million, with an anticipated additional USD 500,000. For Social Science Research, WADA approved seven projects covering research in more than 60 countries worth USD 335,000, against a budget of USD 500,000. Combined, both Scientific and Social Science research committed projects reached 83% of their budget and could reach as much as 93%.

Litigation fees increased by USD 322,000, reaching USD 2 million and exceeding the budget by 14% (or USD 274,000). The Legal Affairs department handled upwards of 35 complex cases that required specialized resources and/or experts. Notably, the high-profile Chinese swimmer cases from 2021 resulted in legal fees of USD 650,000, covering both direct and indirect costs. The litigation reserve increased from USD 2 to 2.5 million, utilizing the funds paid to WADA as a result of the award of the Court of Arbitration for Sport against the Russian Anti-Doping Agency.

IT and WADA’s Anti-Doping Administration & Management System [ADAMS] remained a key priority in 2024, and the Agency continued to invest significant resources. As part of the Sword Group agreement, operating expenses under managed services, hardware, licenses, and maintenance amounted to USD 2.1 million, while more than USD 4 million was invested under capital expenditures for development of ADAMS.

As it concerns employee costs, the amount per employee was adjusted by a portion of annual inflation to maintain the same level as previous years. Salary costs and other personnel costs were within budget.

The total Agency-wide administration costs amounted to USD 3.9 million in 2024, including primarily office operations, governance meetings, and related costs and insurance coverage. An increase of USD 567,000 from the previous year was mainly due to the significant rise in insurance costs, particularly those related to liability and cybersecurity, as well as meeting/event venue costs.

Investments Open Close

The interest income from investment (short- and long-term) reached USD 1.1 million, an increase of USD 662,000 from the previous year. WADA maintained its conservative investment policy of not investing funds in speculative financial products. Despite global economic uncertainty, the US dollar remained strong against the Canadian dollar. A favorable US dollar exchange rate contributed to financial stability given that core expenses are in Canadian dollars.

Surplus and Reserve Open Close

With the approval of the ExCo, WADA increased its operating reserve by USD 9.6 million, ensuring coverage of six months of operations based on the current level of activities. This reserve helps ensure the Agency’s business continuity in the face of ongoing global economic uncertainty. Most importantly, WADA continues to tightly control expenses and savings, allowing for reinvestment into programs and activities that benefit the anti-doping community.

Overall Financial Position

In summary, despite the financial constraints of 2024, WADA’s proactive cost management combined with financial agility helped mitigate the contribution shortfall from some stakeholders. As we move forward, we remain committed to sustaining financial stability and resilience by collaborating with trusted public and private partners.

2024 Financial Statements

You can find our 2024 Financial Statements by following the link below:

2024 Financial Statements