Below is a statement supported by 20 National Anti-Doping organisations , including Drug Free Sport NZ. Quote from DFSNZ
CE Nick Paterson:
“Now is the time for reform, and to ensure WADA's governance and leadership will protect clean athletes and clean
sport,” he said. “Athletes around the world are making themselves heard; it's time for WADA to work with them. Small
change is not enough.”
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International Anti-Doping Leaders call on watershed opportunity to reform Anti-Doping System
Ahead of the Anti-Doping Symposium, NADO leaders met in Lausanne, Switzerland to discuss meaningful reforms to the
anti-doping system in advance of the WADA Presidential election;
Leaders call on WADA Presidential Candidates to publicly commit to:
oFurther support the general principles of the 2016 Copenhagen Reform Proposals that call on the global regulator to become more independent, transparent and adopt best governance practices;
oStanding “shoulder to shoulder” with athlete community, following the recent rise in athlete voice;
oEnsuring an exhaustive, transparent and thorough accounting of the data from the Moscow laboratory and the pursuit of
justice against all involved.
oDrug Free Sport NZ Chief Executive Nick Paterson is one of the 20 international Anti-Doping leaders supporting the
statement. “Now is the time for reform, and to ensure WADA's governance and leadership will protect clean athletes and
clean sport,” he said. “Athletes around the world are making themselves heard; it's time for WADA to work with them.
Small change is not enough.”
March 11, 2019
Lausanne, Switzerland
The leaders of 18 National Anti-Doping Organizations came together in Lausanne, Switzerland today at a crucial time to
discuss the current state of clean sport.
Meeting on the eve of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Annual Symposium, the message emanating from the meeting was clear:
now is the time for WADA to grasp this unique opportunity to reform the anti-doping system as it prepares to appoint the
fourth President in its history. How the anti-doping community chooses to react, leaders said, will determine the
direction of the anti-doping system for years to come; and making the right decisions is essential if public and athlete
faith in the global regulator is to be restored.
The NADO leaders call on WADA Presidential Candidates to expressly commit to three critical points. First, WADA
governance revisions must go further to fully implement the reforms detailed in theCopenhagen Proposals. By removing potential conflicts of interest within WADA’s current governance structure, the organization will increase
its credibility in the eyes of its most important stakeholders: clean athletes.
Second, WADA Presidential Candidates should demonstrate how they will be fully committed to meaningful engagement with
the athletes of the world. For too long, there has been no effective mechanism to allow for the voice of clean athletes
to be heard and this must change moving forward.
Third, WADA Presidential Candidates must build on the organization’s success at retrieving the Moscow laboratory data by
being committed to ensuring an exhaustive, transparent and thorough accounting of the data is achieved. Based on
previous reports from WADA, there are thousands of presumptive positive samples in the Moscow laboratory data that must
be investigated. Athletes are demanding that this review is completed in a transparent manner, which includes reporting
the exact number of presumptive positive findings and how each finding has been managed. This process will take months,
possibly years, and a future WADA President must not try to turn the page from this scandal, but be committed to a full
investigation and pursuit of justice – no matter the cost or time. The NADO Leaders reiterate their offer to assist WADA
in these matters.
This statement is supported by the National Anti-Doping Organization of:
1. Australia
2. Austria
3. Belgium (NADO Flanders)
4. Canada
5. Denmark
6. Estonia
7. Finland
8. France
9. Germany
10. Ireland
11. Japan
12. Netherlands
13. New Zealand
14. Norway
15. Singapore
16. South Africa
17. Sweden
18. Switzerland
19. United Kingdom
20. USA
Link: Copenhagen proposals
END