Press Release

NADO Leaders Propose Series of Reforms to Strengthen Global Anti-Doping Efforts

Extraordinary NADO Summit held in Copenhagen, DenmarkLeaders seek to remove fundamental conflict of interest that exists when anti-doping decisions arecontrolled by sport organisations

Proposal for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to be strengthened through improved
independence, transparency and increased investment



WADA’s authority and capacity to investigate, and impose sanctions and consequences for Code noncompliance should be extended and separated from sportLeaders call for increased protection and support for all whistleblowers, including Yuliya and Vitaly
Stepanov, by all relevant organizations, including the IOC and Russia

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK (August 30, 2016)– The leaders of 17 National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs)
came together for a special summit in Copenhagen Denmark this week to discuss reforms that best serve theinterests of clean athletes and restore confidence in the integrity of anti-doping decisions in international sport.
“As a dedicated group of NADO leaders from around the world, we recognize we are at a crossroads in the fightfor clean sport,” said the leaders in a joint statement. “With the best interests of clean athletes at heart, we havecome together to discuss reforms that we believe will better protect them, restore confidence in the global antidoping effort that has been deeply damaged, and ensure that the disturbing events of recent years are notrepeated.”
Over the course of the two-day summit hosted by Anti-Doping Denmark (ADD), the NADO leaders discussed
some of the most pressing issues facing the current anti-doping landscape, including debate over how best toimprove the effectiveness of NADOs, the inappropriate involvement of sport leaders in critical anti-doping decisions
and activities, the need for a strengthened WADA capable of ensuring a level playing field in countries with failing
anti-doping structures, and long overdue reforms to ensure the current and future protection and support ofwhistleblowers – including that of Yuliya and Vitaly Stepanov.
Recognizing WADA’s efforts and progress since its inception in 1999, NADO leaders made substantive
recommendations meant to improve and strengthen WADA’s capabilities, including improved systems for Codecompliance, the adoption of clear sanctions for large-scale subversions of the anti-doping system (e.g. statesupported doping in Russia) and increased capacity for WADA to investigate and impose proportionate sanctions
for Code non-compliance.
The NADO group also proposed wide-ranging governance reforms for all anti-doping organizations, including
WADA, in an attempt to better promote independence from sport. These reforms include a proposal that nodecision-maker within an anti-doping organization should hold a policy-making position within a sport or event
organizer. While there was recognition of the value in maintaining close collaboration with sport – especially inregard to anti-doping education, funding and intelligence sharing – the leaders brought forth an important proposal
to separate investigatory, testing and results management functions from sports organisations, in order to preventthe inherent conflict of interest that exists when a sports organisation is tasked with both promoting and policing
itself.
The leaders also expressed unequivocal support for the completion of the independent investigation into statesupported doping in Russia by Richard McLaren, as well as calls for a public commitment from the International
Olympic Committee and Russia to assist in guaranteeing the safety, security and well-being of Yuliya and Vitaly
Stepanov.
The proposals were written and endorsed by anti-doping leaders from around the world, including Australia, Austria,Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden,Singapore, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States as well as Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations(iNADO).