WADA provides update on the work of its Taskforce on Unintentional Doping

Agency to launch a ‘call for contributions’ in 2025

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is pleased to provide an update on the work of its Taskforce on Unintentional Doping (Taskforce), which is a working group established by the Agency’s Education Department at the request of its Social Science Research Expert Advisory Group (SSREAG) to examine this important area and recommend an evidence-informed, athlete-focused approach.  

Initial discussions on how to conceptualize, measure and reduce unintentional doping, took place during WADA’s 2022 Global Education Conference, after which the Taskforce was established in 2023. The Taskforce’s ‘Unintentional Doping Research Project’ is co-funded by WADA and the Fonds de recherche du Québec (FRQ), which in May 2022 committed CAD 400,000 for the research project that will initially run from 2022 to 2026. 

The Taskforce has the responsibility of providing expert advice, recommendations, and guidance towards an evidence-informed approach to the prevention of unintentional doping. Its members include: 

• Susan Backhouse (United Kingdom/Chair) 
• Derwin Chan (Hong Kong) 
• Alexis Cooper (Australia) 
• Olivier deHon (Netherlands) 
• Dora Hegyi (Hungary) 
• Annemarie Kristensen (Denmark) 
• Fredrik Lauritzen (Norway) 

Since being established, the Taskforce has begun laying the groundwork for its ‘Unintentional Doping Research Project’, which will seek to advance knowledge and understanding of the concept of unintentional doping. Specifically, the Taskforce will seek input from the anti-doping community and other relevant groups to: 

• Conceptualize the multifaceted nature of unintentional doping and its underlying behaviors; 
• Create a behavioral map that identifies behaviors that can lead to, or prevent, unintentional doping; 
• Determine the scale of unintentional doping by developing a global coding monitoring system; 
• Assess the global incidence and prevalence of unintentional doping; 
• Further understanding of the various risk pathways associated with unintentional doping, along with its corresponding preventative strategies; and 
• Identify problematic situations to be able to warn athletes and athlete support personnel before they engage in potentially compromising behaviors.  

Professor Backhouse said: “The Taskforce on Unintentional Doping is committed to developing a better understanding of the complex issue of unintentional doping, as we know it leads to worry and anxiety amongst athletes across the world. With a focus on preventing the behaviors that put athletes and their support personnel at risk of unintentional doping, we want to draw upon multiple perspectives to help us address the current knowledge gaps and shape collective actions. By better understanding the problem and establishing a system where we can globally measure unintentional doping trends, we will be better placed to intervene in a targeted and tailored way.” 

WADA’s Director of Education Amanda Hudson said: “WADA is pleased to announce the next steps of this crucial Social Science Research project. This research initiative is fully aligned with WADA’s SSR Strategy and our efforts to support athletes and athlete support personnel navigate the anti-doping system. WADA acknowledges that the anti-doping system is complex and that there are potential risks for athletes that can lead to unintentionally committing a doping violation. By exploring the circumstances that lead to unintentional doping cases, we hope to provide more informed guidance for Anti-Doping Organizations to both improve their anti-doping education programs whilst also identifying and implementing broader interventions that can help reduce the incidence. We are grateful to the Fonds de recherche du Québec for its support in making this research project a reality.” 

The mandate of the Taskforce will be extended in order to pursue this very important work. In 2025, WADA will be issuing a ‘call for contributions’ that will seek stakeholder input and evidence on unintentional doping from the anti-doping community that may be able to offer insight. These contributions will then be considered by the Taskforce as part of the project.