WADA President holds positive meetings with African stakeholders

Commencing 26 September, the President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Witold Bańka, was in Africa to engage with a number of key anti-doping partners and Government officials.  

Mr. Bańka and the Director of WADA’s Africa Office, Rodney Swigelaar, were in Senegal and Cabo Verde as part of the President’s stated priority to meet with anti-doping stakeholders from all over the world, including athletes, National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs), National Olympic Committees (NOCs), sports ministers and other Government representatives responsible for clean sport. The discussions revolved around the importance of supporting the countries’ NADOs, the development of robust anti-doping programs, the evolution of the World Anti-Doping Code, and preparations for the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games (Dakar 2026), which will take place in the Senegalese capital next year. 

Mr. Bańka said: “It was a pleasure meeting with our partners in Senegal and Cabo Verde this week. I would like to thank both Governments, as well as our partners and stakeholders from both countries who welcomed us, for their hospitality and for taking the time to have engaging discussions with us. We have made it a priority to address anti-doping topics and issues within the African context, especially in the leadup to the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games, and will continue to work collaboratively with our partners in the region to fortify the anti-doping programs across the continent. This can only be achieved through consistent collaboration between the Public Authorities, the Sport Movement and anti-doping stakeholders.” 

On 26 and 27 September, Mr. Bańka was in Dakar, Senegal, which will host Dakar 2026. During the visit he had the opportunity to meet with a number of anti-doping stakeholders, including: 

• Mouhamed Diop, President of the Organization Nationale Antidopage du Senegal, as well as NADO members and staff; 
• Hon. Khady Diène Gaye, Minister of Youth and Sport; 
• Ibrahima Wade, Vice-President of the Senegalese National Olympic and Sports Committee and Director General of 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games (Dakar 2026); and 
• Members of the CNOSS Athletes Commission. 

Mr. Diop said: “We are honored to have had the opportunity to welcome President Bańka and the WADA delegation to Senegal this week. Our discussions allowed us to provide an update on our anti-doping efforts and to discuss ways we can continue to collaborate with WADA. Our National Anti-Doping Organization is hard at work in the lead up to the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games, and these meetings will play a critical role in the planning and preparation for this historic event. We are truly thankful for the visit of the WADA President and his delegation which in our view, will stand the development of our organization in very good stead.” 

Before departing on 27 September, Mr. Bańka also spent time with youth athletes from Senegal to discuss the importance of anti-doping and how they can play a role in the protection of clean sport. 

On 29 and 30 September, the WADA delegation was in Cabo Verde, where they had the opportunity to meet with the President of Cabo Verde, His Excellency José Maria Neves, as well as: 

• Carlos do Canto Monteiro, Cabo Verde Minister of Youth and Sports;  
• Filomena Fortes, President of the National Olympic Committee of Cabo Verde and member of WADA’s Foundation Board; 
• H.E. Austelino Tavares Correia, President of the National Assembly of Cabo Verde 
• Emanuel dos Passos, President of the National Anti-Doping Organization of Cabo Verde (ONAD-CV) and the Africa Zone II&III Regional Anti-Doping Organization; 
• José Rodrigo Bejarano Restrepo, President of the National Paralympic Committee of Cabo Verde; and 
• Members of the ONAD-CV and NOC Athletes Commissions, and various athlete representatives. 

During the visit, Mr. Bańka also addressed participants during a strategic training session of the ONAD-CV’s recently established Intelligence and Investigations office, in which members of the Portuguese NADO, judicial and national police, customs officials, and pharmacists were invited to provide training and expert advice to the NADO’s staff and representatives from various intelligence and security sectors in Cabo Verde. 

Minister do Canto Monteiro said: “The visit of the WADA President Mr. Bańka, represents recognition of the extraordinary progress that Cabo Verde has made in the fight for clean sport in Africa and around the world.” 

Ms. Fortes said: “We are honored to welcome President Witold Bańka to Cabo Verde, a visit that reaffirms our shared commitment to strengthening clean sport and empowering athletes across the region. His visit highlights the importance of international cooperation in safeguarding clean sport and advancing opportunities for athletes in our nation. It marks a strong step forward in our fight for clean sport and athlete empowerment.” 

Mr. dos Passos said: “The visit of the WADA President and WADA’s Regional Director for Africa represents a milestone for Cabo Verde and is truly a special moment for us at ONAD-CV. It is clear recognition of the work we have been doing and of our strong commitment to promoting clean sport. It gives us more motivation to carry on with determination, as we pursue our goal of becoming an anti-doping leader in Africa.”