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WADA signs five-year Memorandum of Understanding with Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated

Senior Director of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) Science and Medicine Department, Prof. Olivier Rabin, was in Prague, Czechia, for the General Assembly of Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (Global ACI)

Last week, the Senior Director of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) Science and Medicine Department, Prof. Olivier Rabin, was in Prague, Czechia, for the General Assembly of Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (Global ACI), the new international authority for the accreditation of laboratories, certification bodies, inspection bodies, proficiency testing providers, validation/verification bodies, reference material producers and biobanks.

Prof. Rabin was in attendance to deliver a keynote presentation on WADA’s role in laboratory accreditation and to formalize a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between WADA and Global ACI. The MOU outlines a number of areas of cooperation, including:

  • Exchanging relevant information related to the criteria for assessing and accrediting anti-doping laboratories around the world;
  • Developing harmonized guidelines to optimize the application and practice of the aforementioned criteria; and
  • Identifying opportunities for mutual representation on selected committees and working groups related to accreditation and anti-doping laboratories.

Global ACI was officially launched and became fully operational on 1 January 2026, after the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) agreed to establish a single international organization for accreditation. Activities formerly covered by IAF and ILAC are now covered by Global ACI, streamlining global efforts to promote accreditation and quality infrastructure. 

The collaboration between WADA and ILAC, now Global ACI, was established with the first MOU signed in 2007, and has been renewed on multiple occasions since. The agreement facilitates the process of assessment of anti-doping laboratories for compliance with the standards laid out by the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL), its related Technical Documents, and the ISO/IEC 17025 standard.

Prof. Rabin said: “WADA is appreciative of the opportunity to take part in this first edition of the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated General Assembly and is pleased to have come to an agreement on a Memorandum of Understanding that will guide our collaboration in the years to come. The creation of Global ACI is a positive and practical step in ensuring that laboratory accreditation processes and standards are harmonized internationally. Accreditation is a critical part of ensuring that anti-doping laboratories around the world are maintaining the standards laid out in the rules.

“WADA had a long-standing and successful relationship with the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation, and is confident that this MOU with Global ACI will have a similar impact in ensuring that WADA-accredited laboratories around the world are performing at optimal levels.”

Global ACI Chair, Brahim Houla said: “Global ACI is pleased to count WADA among its international partners, and we look forward to playing a role in the efforts that go into ensuring WADA-accredited laboratories are meeting the standards necessary to ensure the protection of clean sport. It was a pleasure to welcome WADA to this year’s General Assembly, and we are excited to work collaboratively over the course of the next five years and beyond.”

As part of the MOU, WADA and Global ACI also agree to meet on an annual basis, and to invite representatives as observers to each organization’s annual meetings, namely to the WADA Foundation Board meeting and the Global ACI General Assembly.