In May 2022, as part of a series of governance reforms designed to strengthen athletes’ representation within the Agency, the WADA Foundation Board (Board) approved the creation of a 20-member WADA Athlete Council, as recommended by the Working Group on the Review of WADA Governance Reforms in its Final Report.
On 4 January 2023, WADA published the Athlete Council’s membership as outlined in the table below that took effect on 1 January.
Council Composition
The Athlete Council is composed of the following three groups of athlete representatives:
- Group 1: Five athletes appointed by the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC’s) and International Paralympic Committee’s (IPC’s) Athlete Commissions;
- Group 2: Eight athletes elected by the Athlete Commissions of International Federations (IFs); and
- Group 3: Seven other athletes, to be selected by an appointment panel made up by a majority of athletes, to fill skills and diversity gaps.
Group 1: Appointed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) + the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athlete Commissions
|
|
Name |
Athlete Commission |
Sport |
Country |
|
1 |
KAYANGE, Humphrey |
IOC |
Rugby (Rugby Sevens) |
Kenya |
|
2 |
TERHO, Emma |
IOC |
Ice Hockey |
Finland |
|
3 |
VISSER, Jitske |
IPC |
Wheelchair Basketball |
Netherlands |
|
4 |
WŁOSZCZOWSKA, Maja Martyna |
IOC |
Cycling (Mountain Bike) |
Poland |
|
5 |
ZHANG, Hong |
IOC |
Skating (Speed Skating) |
China |
Group 2: Elected by International Federation (IF) Athlete Commissions
|
|
Name |
Sport Nationality |
Nominating International Federation Athlete Commission |
|
6 |
ĆOSIĆ, Ivan |
Croatia |
World ParaVolley (WPV) |
|
7 |
EGAN, Clare |
USA |
International Biathlon Union (IBU) |
|
8 |
HARSS, Jennifer |
Germany |
International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) |
|
9 |
HEGYI, Dora |
Hungary |
International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) |
|
10 |
KIT, Kristen |
Canada |
World Rowing (WR-FISA) |
|
11* |
|
|
|
|
12 |
SABLJAK, Ella |
Australia |
International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) |
|
13 |
ZECCHINI, Alessia |
Italy |
World Underwater Federation (CMAS) |
*Seat currently vacant
Group 3: Selected by Athlete Council Appointment Panel
|
|
Name |
Sport |
Country |
|
14 |
AHRENS, Gaby |
Shooting |
Namibia |
|
15 |
ESCOBAR, Adriana |
Rowing |
El Salvador |
|
16 |
GOMEZ, Iñaki |
Athletics |
Canada |
|
17 |
O’LEARY, Patrick |
Paracanoe |
Ireland |
|
18 |
OYEDEJI, Olumide |
Basketball |
Nigeria |
|
19 |
PINI, Ryan |
Swimming |
Papua New Guinea |
|
20 |
TAN, Yuhan |
Badminton |
Belgium |
This new Athlete Council represents, supports and promotes the voices of athletes on anti-doping matters; and is the avenue for athletes, chosen by athletes, to assume important seats within WADA’s governing bodies. Specifically:
- the Council Chair is appointed to WADA’s Executive Committee (ExCo);
- two members have seats on WADA’s Board (with at least one coming from Paralympic sport); and
- the Council is in charge of appointing athlete representatives to other WADA bodies.
In March 2023, the Athlete Council held a virtual election session during which the following members were elected:
- Mr Ryan Pini: Athlete Council Chair and ExCo Member
- Ms Gaby Ahrens: Athlete Council Vice-Chair and deputy to the Chair on the ExCo
- Mr Patrick O’Leary: Board Member
- Mr Yuhan Tan: Board Member
The Athlete Council developed new Terms of Reference which were formally approved by the Board in April 2023. The Group 2 WADA Athlete Council Election Procedure and Group 3 WADA Athlete Council Appointment Procedure are attached at the end of the Terms of Reference.
Should you have any additional questions, please feel free to direct them to governance@wada-ama.org.