Foundation Board

WADA’s 42-member Foundation Board is our highest decision-making body. It is composed equally of representatives from the Olympic Movement and Public Authorities. Members are appointed by their respective constituency groups. Following the May 2022 governance reforms, the Foundation Board membership was increased to 42 members to reflect the addition of two representatives from the WADA Athlete Council and two representatives from the WADA NADO Expert Advisory Group.

[Currently, half (21/42) of the Board is made up of active or former international-level athletes.]

Independent President and Vice-President

Witold Bańka

President | Poland

Witold Bańka

President | Poland

Effective January 2020, Witold Bańka commenced in his role as President of WADA. Prior to this, since May 2017, Mr. Bańka served as the European representative on WADA’s Executive Committee in his capacity as Minister of Sport and Tourism, Poland.

In November 2015, Mr. Bańka was appointed Minister of Sport and Tourism, Poland, to the cabinet of Prime Minister Beata Szydło; and, in December 2017, he was reappointed to the cabinet of Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki. In this role, Mr. Bańka initiated the amendment of the Act on Sport that’s main objective was to increase transparency of the work of Polish sports associations; and, to eradicate corruption and nepotism from sport. He is the author of the bill on the Fight Against Doping in Sport, which comprehensively regulates all matters relating to combating doping in Poland.

Prior to entering politics, Mr. Bańka worked in the public relations sector, delivering training courses in media relations and reputation management. In this capacity, he also created advertising campaigns and built PR strategies with leading Polish companies.

As a 400-meter runner, Mr. Bańka represented Poland internationally from 2005 – 2012, with career highlights that included: silver medals in 2005 and 2006 at the Polish Athletics Junior Championships; a relay gold in 2005 at the European Athletics Junior Championships in Erfurt, Germany; a gold and a silver medal in 2007 and 2009 respectively at the Summer Universiade in Bangkok, Thailand and those in Belgrade, Serbia; and, a bronze medal in 2007 at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, Japan.

Mr. Bańka was born in October 1984 in Tychy, Poland; and, graduated with a degree in political science from the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland. While he retired from elite sport in 2012, he is still very active in sport, including running marathons.
Yang Yang

Vice-President | China
Yang Yang

Vice-President | China
China

Three-time Olympian in Short Track Speed Skating (2006, 2002, 1998);

China’s first-ever Winter Olympic Games Gold Medalist (2x) (2002); Silver Medalist (2002, 1998); Bronze Medalist (2006)

Six-time overall World Champion (1997-2002)

Founder, Champion Foundation

Founder, Feiyang Skating Academy

Olympic Movement

(In alphabetical order by organization and by surname where there is more than one member per organization)

ANOC Representatives

Santiago Lange
Athletes' Commission Member, Argentina National Olympic Committee
Argentina

Former international-level sailor (Snipe and Tornado)
Seven-time Olympian (20202, 2016, 2008, 2004, 2000, 1996, 1988); Gold Medalist, Nacra 17 (2016); Bronze Medalist, Tornado (2008, 2004)
Four-time Wild Champion (Snipe 1995, 1993, 1985) (Tornado 2004)

Zlatko Matesa
President, Croatian Olympic Committee
Croatia

Former Prime Minister of Croatia (1995-2000)
Executive Committee Member, European Olympic Committees
Vice Dean, Zagreb School of Economics and Management

Benedict Tan
Vice President, Singapore National Olympic Council
Singapore

Former Olympian (1996) and international-level sailor (Laser)
Asian Games Gold Medalist (1994)
Honorary Advisor, Executive Committee of the Singapore Sailing Federation
Member, IOC Medical and Scientific Commission

Damaris Young
IOC Member
President, National Olympic Committee of Panama
Panama

Gold Medalist (Panama Senior Basketball Team), IX Central American Sports Games (2013)
Gold Medalist (Football Team), World Interuniversity Games (IFIUS) (2008)
Member of the IOC Athletes’ Entourage Commission

ASOIF Representatives

David Lappartient
IOC Member
UCI President
France

President, French National and Olympic Sports Committee (CNOSF)
President, Foundation Board and Executive Committee of the UCI World Cycling Centre
Former President, Professional Cycling Council (2013-2017); European Cycling Union (2013-2017); Fédération Française de Cyclisme (2009-2017)

Jean-Christophe Rolland
IOC Member
World Rowing President
France

Three-time Olympian in rowing (2000, 1996, 1992); Gold Medalist (2000); Bronze Medalist (1996)
World Rowing Championships Gold Medalist (1997, 1993); Silver Medalist (1999, 1994); Bronze Medalist (1995)
Member of IOC Sustainability and Legacy Commission

Petra Sörling
IOC Member
ITTF President
Sweden

World Veteran Table Tennis Championships Gold Medalist (2018)
Executive Committee Member, SportAccord
Executive Board Member, Swedish National Olympic Committee
Board Member, International Masters Games Association
Member, IOC Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commission
Honorary President, Swedish Table Tennis Association

WOF Representative

Olle Dahlin
IBU President

Sweden

Council Member, WOF
Member, IOC Sustainability and Legacy Commission
Executive Board Member, Swedish National Olympic Committee
Honorary President, Swedish Biathlon Federation

IOC Representatives

Paula Belén Pareto
IOC Member
Argentina

Four-time Olympian in judo (2020, 2016, 2012, 2008); Gold Medalist (2016); Bronze Medalist (2008)
World Judo Championships Gold Medalist (2015); Silver Medalist (2014); Bronze Medalist (2018)
Gold, Silver and Bronze Medalist, Pan American Games and Pan American Judo Championships
Board Member, Argentinian Olympic Committee
Member, IOC Medical and Scientific Commission

Filomena Fortes
IOC Member
President, Cabo Verde National Olympic Committee
Cabo Verde

Member, IOC Commissions (Sport and Active Society and Olympic Education; Coordination of the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad Los Angeles 2028)

Heike Groesswang
IBSF Secretary General
Germany

Ex Officio Member, IOC Coordination Commission for the XXV Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026

Lydia Nsekera
IOC Member
President, Burundi National Olympic Committee
Burundi

Chair, IOC Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Commission
Member, IOC Commissions (Digital Engagement and Marketing Communications; Coordination for the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad Los Angeles 2028)
Deputy Chairwoman, FIFA Development Committee
Honorary Member, Burundi Football Federation
Former FIFA Council Member

Baklai Temengil
IOC Member
Vice President, Oceania National Olympic Committees
Palau

Former international-level canoeist
Secretary General, Palau National Olympic Committee
Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs, Republic of Palau

IOC Athletes' Commission Representatives

Abhinav Bindra
IOC Athletes’ Commission Member
India

Five-time Olympian in shooting (10m air rifle) (2016, 2012, 2008, 2004, 2000); Gold Medalist (2008)
World Shooting Championships Gold Medalist (2006)
Commonwealth Games Multi Medalist: 5 Gold, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze
Asian Games Multi Medalist: 1 Silver, 2 Bronze
Member, IOC Commissions (Olympic Education; IOC Members Election)

Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen
IOC Athletes' Commission Member
IOC Member
Norway

Three-time Olympian in cross-country skiing (2018, 2014, 2010); Gold Medalist 4x5 km relay (2018)
World Ski Championships Gold Medalist (2017, 2015, 2007); Silver Medalist (2019, 2015); Bronze Medalist (2x) (2017, 2007) (1x) (2011)
Chair of Athletes' Commission of Norway;
Member of the Board of the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports (NIF)
Member of the Athletes Whereabouts Commission, Anti-Doping Norway

Emma Terho
Chair of the IOC Athletes' Commission
IOC Member
Finland

Five-time Olympian in ice hockey (2014, 2010, 2006, 2002, 1998); Bronze Medalist (2010, 1998)
Ice Hockey World Championships Bronze Medalist (2009, 2008, 2004, 2000)
Member, IOC Commissions (Coordination for the XXIV Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022; Olympic Programme; Legal)
Vice Chair of the Athletes' Commission, National Olympic Committee of Finland
Member of the Board, Finnish Advisory Board of Ethics
Member of the Women’s Committee, International Ice Hockey Federation
Member, WADA Athlete Council

Hong Zhang
IOC Athletes' Commission Member
IOC Member
China

Olympic Gold Medalist in speed skating (2014);
World Sprint Speed Skating Championships Gold Medalist (2014); Bronze Medalist (2016);
Executive Board Member, Chinese Olympic Committee
Member, IOC Commissions (IOC Coordination Commission for the 4th Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024 [Chair]; Athletes’ Entourage; Future Host Commission for the Olympic Winter Games)
Member, WADA Athlete Council

IPC Representative

Miki Matheson
Member, IPC Governing Board
Japan

Paralympian in ice sledge speed racing (1998); Gold Medalist (3x); Silver Medalist (1x)

WADA Athlete Council

(In alphabetical order by surname)

Patrick O’Leary
Ireland

Two-time Paralympian in paracanoe (Rio 2016 Paralympic Games and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games)
Winner of the European championship in the Va’a VL3 event in 2021
PhD in Organic Chemistry and lecturer for 18 years in the National University of Ireland Galway
Registrar of the National University of Ireland

Yuhan Tan
Belgium

Two-time Olympian in badminton (London 2012 Olympic Games and Rio 2016 Olympic Games)
Medical Doctor in Orthopedic Surgery and sports medicine
Former Chair of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Athletes’ Commission and BWF Council member
Former Chair of the Belgian Olympic Committee (BOIC) Athletes’ Commission and BOIC board member

Public Authorities

(In alphabetical order by region and by surname where there is more than one member per region)

Africa Representatives

Kofi Iddie Adams
Minister of Sports and Recreation
Ghana

Jacob Kelebeng
Minister of Sport and the Arts
Botswana

Ashraf Sobhy
Minister of Youth and Sports
Egypt

Former international-level karateka
President, Executive Office of the Arab Youth and Sports Ministers Council

Americas Representatives

Rommel Aghmed Pacheco Marrufo
Director General, National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport (CONADE)
Mexico

Former international-level diver (Platform, Synchronized, Springboard)
Four-time Olympian (2004, 2008, 2016, 2020)
Pan American Games Gold (2003, 2015) and Silver (2003, 2007, 2011) Medalist
World Championships Silver (2017, 2019) and Bronze (2013) Medalist

Franklin Amilcar Cardillo Romero
President of the Central American and Caribbean Sports Council (CONCECADE)
Venezuela

Minister of Sports

Olivia Grange
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports
Jamaica

Jaime Pizarro Herrera
President, South American Sport Council (CONSUDE)
Chile

Former international-level football player
Minister of Sports

Asia Representatives

Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Saud
Minister of Sports
Saudi Arabia

President, Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee
Former international-level auto racer

Mi-ran Jang
2^nd Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Republic of Korea

Three-time Olympian in weightlifting (2012, 2008, 2004); Gold Medalist (2008); Silver Medalist (2004); Bronze Medalist (2012)
World Weightlifting Championships Gold Medalist (2009, 2007, 2006, 2005); Bronze Medalist (2010)
Asian Games Gold Medalist (2010); Silver Medalist (2006, 2002)

Yingchuan Li
Former Vice Minister
China

Former Vice Minister of the General Administration of Sport of China (2017-2024)
Former Assistant Minister of the General Administration of Sport of China (2015-2017)
Former Director General of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports (2010-2015)
Former President of Capital University of Physical Education and Sports (2006-2010)

Arata Takebe
State Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Japan

Europe Representatives (Council of Europe)

Bjørn Berge
Deputy Secretary General, Council of Europe
Norway

Karen Giloyan
Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports
Armenia

Europe Representatives (Member States of the European Union)

Sandra Bergqvist
Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity
Finland

Sławomir Nitras
Minister of Sport and Tourism
Poland

Ioannis Vroutsis
Alternate Minister of Sports
Greece

Oceania Representatives

Peter Miskimmin
Head of Sport Diplomacy, Sport New Zealand (Sport NZ)
New Zealand

Laumatiamanu Ringo Purcell
Minister of Sports and Recreation
Samoa

WADA National Anti-Doping Organization Expert Advisory Group

Michael Cepic
Austria

Chair of the WADA NADO EAG
CEO of the National Anti-Doping Agency of Austria (NADA Austria)
Chairman of the Board of the Central European Anti-Doping Organization (CEADO)

Khalid Galant
South Africa

CEO of South African Institute for Drug-Free Sports (SAIDS)

Foundation Board

Independent President and Vice-President

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