Play True Day 2026: WADA invites athletes and global anti-doping community to unite around “Play True. It Starts with You”

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) invites the global anti-doping community to come together on 17 April 2026 to celebrate Play True Day 2026 and show support for clean sport. For 2026, the campaign returns with the same important theme: “Play True. It Starts with You.” 

The theme highlights the individual responsibility of athletes, coaches and all anti-doping stakeholders to protecting the integrity of sport. Because clean sport does not happen by chance, it happens through everyday choices. 

A Growing Global Movement 

Since its launch in 2014, Play True Day has grown into a worldwide movement, reaching millions every year. In 2025, the campaign generated a 49% increase in social media engagement¹ compared to the previous year, reflecting the growing momentum behind the message of personal accountability to clean sport. The global response to last year’s first #PlayTrueChallenge – a fitness-based activity – further demonstrated the power of individual action to inspire collective impact. 

WADA President Witold Bańka said: “Once again, I am calling on athletes and the global anti-doping community to join us on Play True Day 2026.   

Propelled by the theme, ‘Play True. It Starts with You,’ we reaffirm a simple but essential commitment that protecting sport begins with each of us. By choosing to Play True, every athlete, every Anti-Doping Organization and every other stakeholder contributes to safeguarding the integrity of sport for athletes worldwide.” 

Anti-Doping Community Involvement 

WADA invites athletes, National and Regional Anti-Doping Organizations, Sports Federations, Governments, Major Event Organizers and all anti-doping stakeholders to pledge their support for “Play True. It Starts with You.” 

Through creative and engaging activations, we aim to inspire action, amplify personal accountability and continue building global momentum for clean sport. 

How to Participate 

Toolkit 

To support participation, WADA has developed a comprehensive Play True Day toolkit to guide stakeholders through this year’s campaign elements. The toolkit is available in English, French and Spanish and can be downloaded from WADA’s Play True Day webpage. 

Social Media Assets 

WADA has created branded visuals (in English, French and Spanish) for participants to incorporate into their own #PlayTrueDay posts. These assets are available for download on the Play True Day webpage. 

Participants are encouraged to: 

• Create personalized #PlayTrueDay visuals tailored to their country, language and/or sport; 
• Use the hashtags #PlayTrueDay and #PlayTrueChallenge in the lead-up to and on 17 April; and 
• Follow the campaign in real time via WADA’s dedicated Play True Day social media wall. 

Play True Challenge 2026 

17 March – 16 April 2026 

Following last year’s strong participation, the #PlayTrueChallenge returns — same format, same impact. 

The Challenge is a 30-second fitness-based activity that highlights the effort, discipline and dedication required to compete clean. 

How it works: 

1. Record yourself completing as many repetitions as possible of a sport-related movement in 30 seconds. 

2. End your video by walking up to the camera and saying: “30 seconds for clean sport. Play True. It starts with me.” 

3. Nominate (and tag) three friends or colleagues to join the Challenge. 

4. Share your video on Instagram using #PlayTrueChallenge and #PlayTrueDay and tag @WADA.

More details are available in the Play True Day toolkit and will be shared across WADA’s social media channels in the coming weeks. 

Call to Action for Anti-Doping Organizations 

WADA encourages all stakeholders to share this message with athletes, coaches, and their wider networks. 

For more information and access to campaign resources, please visit WADA’s official Play True Day page. For further inquiries, please contact Amélie Brissette, Social Media Specialist, at amelie.brissette@wada-ama.org. 

Together, let us make Play True Day 2026 a success.

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