Save the dates: WADA’s 2019 Annual Symposium / WADA’s 2019 World Conference on Doping in Sport

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) kindly asks its stakeholders to ‘save the dates’ for:

1. WADA’s 2019 Annual Symposium that will be held from Wednesday, 13 March to Thursday, 14 March 2019 at the SwissTech Convention Center in Lausanne, Switzerland.

   The WADA Symposium, which is the main event on the annual global anti-doping calendar, is a unique and practical event that offers anti-doping stakeholders the opportunity to gather, interact and learn from one another. The Symposium is designed for anti-doping practitioners from International Federations, National and Regional Anti-Doping Organizations and Major Event Organizers; representatives from Governments, Athlete Commissions, WADA-accredited laboratories and Athlete Passport Management Units; as well as, other stakeholders such as the media, researchers and service providers that are integral to clean sport.

   Contrary to recent years, the Symposium will be carried out over two versus three days. This is due to the fact that the Symposium agenda will primarily be focused on the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code and Standard Review in the lead up to the World Conference referenced below.

   More details regarding the Symposium, including a draft agenda and logistical information, will be provided when registration opens during the fourth quarter of 2018.

2. WADA’s fifth World Conference on Doping in Sport that will be held from Tuesday, 5 November to Thursday, 7 November 2019 at the International Congress Centre in Katowice, Poland. It should be noted that on Monday, 4 November, the Agency’s Executive Committee will hold a closed meeting; and, on-site delegate registration for the Conference will open.

   Representatives from the Sport Movement, Governments and National and Regional Anti-Doping Organizations; along with, Athletes, their entourage, the media and other anti-doping experts will converge in Katowice to take stock of the evolution of Clean Sport; and, engage in high-level discussion and debate about the global anti-doping program, its practices and processes.

   Among other major decisions during the Conference, WADA’s Foundation Board will approve the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code. On 4 June, WADA launched the second of a three-phase 2021 Code Review Process, which also involves review of the International Standards, for which the Agency is soliciting stakeholder feedback by 14 September 2018. Following approval during the World Conference, the revised 2021 Code and Standards will take effect on 1 January 2021.

   More details regarding the World Conference, including a draft agenda and logistical information, will be provided when registration opens during the first quarter of 2019.