WADA’s Athlete Council plays active role during IOC’s 12th International Athletes’ Forum 2025

This week, members of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) Athlete Council were in Lausanne, Switzerland, to participate in the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC’s) International Athletes’ Forum (IAF) 2025. 

The two-day IAF that began yesterday, was hosted and organized by the IOC Athletes’ Commission (AC) and welcomed more than 400 athlete representatives to discuss relevant topics and exchange ideas to strengthen the support provided by their ACs. 

WADA Athlete Council Chair, Ryan Pini, said: “WADA’s Athlete Council is appreciative of the International Olympic Committee’s Athlete Commission’s invitation to participate in this year’s Forum. This is an important venue for athletes and their representatives from around the world to connect and engage with our members. We had productive, meaningful discussions during our meeting this week. We look forward to working collaboratively with the IOC in the leadup to the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 and throughout the implementation of the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards.”   

On Tuesday, the WADA Athlete Council and the IOC AC issued a joint statement denouncing the Enhanced Games as “a betrayal of everything that we stand for”. The Athlete Council was also featured on the Forum’s official program, in the form of a 90-minute session on each day titled ‘Together for Clean Sport: It starts with you’, which focused on:  

• Providing an update regarding the Athlete Council’s work, including a call for athletes to join the Council by submitting their candidacy to the Group 3 appointment process; 
• Sharing key initiatives meant to support athletes and clean sports; and 
• Engaging athletes in dialogue focusing on an even more effective, efficient, and athlete-centered anti-doping system.  

WADA Athlete Council Vice-Chair, Gaby Ahrens, said: “The Athlete Council was thrilled to have the opportunity to present to the athletes in attendance at this year’s International Athletes’ Forum. Our session was well received by the athletes in attendance, and we are pleased with the level of interest and engagement in the Athlete Council’s work and initiatives. It was also extremely valuable to us to listen to the athletes share their ideas on how we can continue to build an athlete-centered anti-doping system. We will take this information back with us to explore what we can do as an Athlete Council, and in collaboration with WADA’s Athlete Engagement team, to continue this work.” 

Anna Thorstenson, the Athletes' Anti-Doping Ombuds, was on hand to promote the Ombuds and engage with athletes in attendance. WADA staff was also in attendance to support the Athlete Council and engage with athletes, including Director, Athlete Engagement, Karine Henrie; and Senior Manager, Athlete Engagement Stacy Spletzer-Jegen. An engagement booth was also set up in the event marketplace to provide athletes with more opportunities to connect and discuss anti-doping topics relevant to them.