Law enforcement and other government agencies possess powers that sport does not have, such as tackling the source and supply of illegal substances as well as searching and detaining those suspected of crimes. Equally, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and other Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) receive information and develop expertise that can be useful to criminal investigations.
Partnerships between ADOs and law enforcement enable:
- Combatting the illegal production and distribution of doping substances
- Exchanging intelligence and practical support
- Coordinating evidence-gathering
- Coordinating investigations of mutual concern
WADA currently has partnerships with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the World Customs Organization (WCO), the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement (Europol), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Each of these four partnerships has been formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
In February 2009, WADA signed an MOU with INTERPOL, the world’s largest police organization, which provides a formalized framework for cooperation between the two organizations. The MOU facilitates evidence gathering and information sharing between law enforcement and anti-doping organizations as well as the involvement of governments to combat production and trafficking of illegal substances.
Since the initiation of this partnership, governments around the world have seconded officers based at INTERPOL’s headquarters in Lyon, France, to serve as liaisons between WADA, governments, the Sport Movement, and the various INTERPOL bureaus’ police departments around the world.
WADA continues to work closely with INTERPOL. Most recently, they accepted to become a partner in our I&I Capacity and capability project to build a Global Intelligence and Investigations Network composed of I&I experts at National Anti-Doping Agencies and law enforcement. The Project is now being expanded to the Asia and Oceania region with continued involvement from INTERPOL.
In June 2011, WADA signed an MOU with WCO to foster cooperation in activities of common interest in the areas of anti-doping and trafficking of doping substances, including:
- Collection, storage and exchange of information;
- Setting up of information sessions and seminars; and,
- Cross-organization alerts on trends.
The MOU also encourages the implementation of relevant legislation in all WCO member countries to enable customs officers to fight against the trafficking of doping substances.
In February 2021, WADA signed an MOU with Europol, formally establishing a mutual framework for cooperation between the two agencies in the combat of illegal production and distribution of doping substances within the European Union. The MOU entails the exchange of intelligence and practical support, as well as coordination on evidence gathering and investigations of mutual concern.
WADA continues to work closely with Europol. In 2022, WADA was involved in the initial stages of Operation Shield, a Europol-led investigation that successfully seized more than EUR 40 million-worth of counterfeit medicines and doping substances, dismantled 59 criminal groups, and arrested or reported to the judicial authorities 349 suspects across Europe.
Most recently, they were an integral partner in piloting the I&I Capability and Capacity Building Project in Europe, the success of which was so significant that it is expanding globally, beginning with Asia and Oceania.
In February 2021, WADA signed an MOU with the UNODC, the UN agency mandated to help member countries guard against the serious threats posed by drugs, crime, and terrorism. The MOU formally establishes and facilitates a mutual framework for cooperation and information-sharing between the two agencies, focusing primarily on research and trend analysis, forensics, and transnational organized crime. Specifically, the areas of work include:
- Exchanging scientific expertise and resources to enhance the analytical capability and performance of WADA-accredited laboratories;
- Sharing data and information on new and emerging substances;
- Exchanging information to enhance research and analysis in the area of transnational organized crime in the manufacture and trafficking of substances used in doping; and,
- Raising awareness about the issues created by doping in sport.
WADA also works with the UNODC, amongst other partner organizations, to host an annual International Conference on Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS). Some principal aims of the series are to share evidence-based information on NPS, share analytical approaches to NPS detection and identification, and understand the pharmacology and effects of NPS in sport and societal contexts.