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WADA President engages with Government officials and sport leaders in Uzbekistan
This week, the President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Witold Bańka, was in Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan, to attend several events pertaining to anti-doping and sport governance in Asia, and to engage with stakeholders from the region.
While in Tashkent, Mr. Bańka met with Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Mr. Adkham Ikramov, Minister of Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan; and His Excellency Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani, the newly-elected President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), among others, to discuss a number of anti-doping topics pertaining to Uzbekistan and the surrounding region.
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Mr. Bańka said: “It was a pleasure to meet with President Mirziyoyev, Mr. Ikramov and Sheikh Joaan to discuss a variety of important topics focused on anti-doping and sport in the Republic of Uzbekistan. As Uzbekistan’s sporting ambitions continue to grow, WADA expects a corresponding strengthening of its national anti-doping system. My hope is that these justifiably heightened expectations are met as Uzbekistan enters this important era of the country’s sporting history.”
On 26 January, Mr. Bańka attended the OCA’s General Assembly, where he delivered an address and lauded its commitment to clean sport and emphasis on anti-doping education.
He said: “I am appreciative of the opportunity provided by the Olympic Council of Asia to speak to its members to reiterate the importance of working collaboratively to protect clean sport, here in Asia and around the world. The OCA has actively cooperated with WADA and has contributed to strengthening anti-doping systems across the region. We have worked in partnership at numerous OCA events over the past few years, and are now looking ahead to the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan where WADA’s Athlete Engagement and Independent Observer programs will be in attendance to engage with athletes and ensure that the anti-doping program is robust.
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"Importantly, the OCA has mandated that all athletes competing in its events must complete WADA’s tailored Anti-Doping Education and Learning Platform (ADEL) course before their events. It reflects a clear commitment to safeguarding the integrity of sport and is an example for other sport governing bodies around the world.”
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On 27 January, the WADA President, along with Dr. Mayumi YaYa Yamamoto, Director of WADA’s Asia/Oceania office and Sébastien Gillot, Director of WADA’s European office and Sport Movement Relations, participated in the National Anti-Doping Agency of Uzbekistan’s (UzNADA’s) Anti-Doping Forum, which was held in conjunction with the opening ceremony of UzNADA’s new office in the Olympic town. In his speech during the ceremony, the President congratulated the NADO on this new beginning and on its eight-year anniversary as an independent NADO, while also issuing a challenge for the months and years to come.
Mr. Bańka said: “The opening of a new office in the impressive Olympic town marks an important milestone for the National Anti-Doping Agency of Uzbekistan. This modern sporting complex reflects Uzbekistan’s aspirations in high-performance sport. The discussions held during the forum were productive and hopefully have laid a strong foundation for what is to come. The next few years will be critical, with UzNADA having the opportunity to demonstrate its readiness to be a clean sport partner and leader in the region.”
