WADA participates in Fifth Continental African Athletes’ Forum

Last week, from 4-7 April, members of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) Athlete Council and leadership team were in Windhoek, Namibia, to participate in the Fifth Continental African Athlete Forum, which was hosted by the Association of National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of Africa (ANOCA) and its Athletes’ Commission (AC). 

Supported by Olympic Solidarity, the Forum brings together the NOC AC members in Africa to strengthen the skills, resources and networks of African athletes, while promoting the key role they play in the sports ecosystem.  

The agenda featured an interactive session dedicated to anti-doping, including roundtable discussions focused on the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards update, WADA’s Athletes' Anti-Doping Ombuds and WADA’s Africa Office’s initiatives. 

Vice-Chair of WADA’s Athlete Council, Chair of the ANOCA AC and three-time Olympian in the sport of shooting, Gaby Ahrens, played a key role in the organization of the Forum and emphasized the impact these types of events can have on shaping anti-doping policy and ensuring the athletes’ voices are prominent in the decision-making process. 

Ms. Ahrens said: “I was pleased that several WADA Athlete Council members, WADA staff and the Athletes’ Anti-Doping Ombuds could join us to engage with athletes and promote clean sport during this year’s Continental African Athletes’ Forum. It represents an important opportunity for us to strengthen relationships with athletes in Africa and build awareness around the work of the Athlete Council and the Ombuds. This event is set up to provide African athletes with the opportunity to have their concerns addressed and their voices heard with regards to key anti-doping issues. We received excellent feedback from the athletes in attendance on a number of subjects and we look forward to putting their ideas into action.” 

The WADA delegation also included: 

• Adriana Escobar, WADA Athlete Council member, Chair of El Salvador’s National Olympic Committee Athlete Commission and Olympian in the sport of rowing; 
• Karine Henrie, WADA, Director, Athlete Engagement; 
• Humphrey Kayange, member of WADA’s Athlete Council, WADA’s Executive Committee, IOC Athletes’ Commission, and Olympian in the sport of rugby; 
• Rodney Swigelaar, WADA, Africa Office Director;  
• Emma Terho, WADA Athlete Council member, Chair of the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission and Olympian in the sport of ice hockey; and 
• Anna Thorstenson, WADA’s Athletes’ Anti-Doping Ombuds. 

Mr. Swigelaar said: “WADA thanks the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa and its Athletes Commission for inviting us to participate in this important event. WADA has consistently championed the importance of collaboration and prides itself on being an athlete-centered organization. These types of forums are critical to ensuring athletes have a platform to express ideas and share experiences.” 

The Forum also represented an opportunity for the Namibian National Anti-Doping Organization, which is currently being established, to shadow members of WADA’s team and develop a stronger understanding of WADA’s role and its athlete engagement initiatives as it begins building its own anti-doping capacity. 

Throughout the event, a WADA engagement booth, which was funded through WADA’s partnership with SuperSport, was set up with interactive activities in order to get to know the athlete representatives better. The booth also received a visit from International Olympic Committee President-elect and Olympic champion, Kirsty Coventry. A native of Zimbabwe, Ms. Coventry attended the Forum to meet with African athletes. She also reaffirmed her commitment to working collaboratively with WADA to protect clean sport.  

WADA will also leave a legacy, in that promotional resources will be left behind for similar activities at future events held in the region, such as the African Union Region 5 Youth Games, which will welcome more than 2,500 athletes from 10 Southern African countries in Windhoek and Swakopmund, Namibia, from 4-13 July 2025.