WADA collaborates with Japan Anti-Doping Agency at 2023 International Anti-Doping Seminar in Asia and Oceania

This week, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) partnered with the Japan Anti-Doping Agency (JADA) for the annual International Anti-Doping Seminar in Asia and Oceania, which was held from 12-13 December 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. 

The hybrid event welcomed in excess of 200 participants from more than 30 countries. The seminar was commissioned and supported by the Government of Japan through the Japan Sports Agency (JSA). A mainstay of the clean sport calendar, the theme of this year’s edition was “United Effort for Clean Sport Environment”. 

The event opened with participants being welcomed by Japan’s State Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (and WADA Foundation Board member from Asia), Mr. Shuhei Aoyama, and by JADA Chair, Professor Akama Takao. 

WADA President, Witold Bańka, delivered a keynote address, which highlighted the strong support the Agency had received from Japan over the years. 

He said: “Japan’s contributions to WADA are significant. The Japan Anti-Doping Agency and the Government of Japan are key partners for us, and their influence within the Asia and Oceania regions makes them important players in the global anti-doping landscape. Through financial contributions and knowledge sharing, anti-doping capacity in this region has steadily improved. The importance of this seminar cannot be overstated. As we all prepare for an important calendar year in 2024, WADA looks forward to its continued collaboration with our partners throughout the region.” 

WADA Director General, Olivier Niggli, was also in Tokyo to deliver a presentation focused on global development and clean sport strategies. Mr. Niggli recapped some of the Agency’s achievements delivered in connection with its 2020-2024 Strategic Plan, and also outlined future activities, not only in the Asia and Oceania regions, but for the global anti-doping community. 

Mr. Niggli said: “WADA has progressed significantly since the start of 2020 and there are a lot of important projects ahead of us. The next few years will be incredibly important for WADA and the anti-doping community, as we look ahead to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the 2025 World Conference on Doping in Sport in Busan, Korea, and the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards update process, which is already underway. These landmark events and moments will require the collaboration of all our partners in the Asia and Oceania regions as we continue to raise the game for athletes worldwide.” 

In his address to the participants, Professor Takao echoed the theme of cooperation and collaboration between WADA, JADA and the anti-doping stakeholders across Asia and Oceania. He said: “JADA is pleased to welcome the WADA President and Director General to Japan, along with more than 50 Asia/Oceania clean sport practitioners in person and many partners online from around the world. This event is a milestone every year for our regions. It allows us to connect and work collaboratively, which is reflected in this year’s theme of a ‘United Effort for Clean Sport Environment’. We are at the start of the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code and International Standard update and therefore we have to be united and focused on strengthening the system. The athlete-centered approach is key, as is anti-doping education to helping protect athletes and clean sport internationally.” 

Other contributors to the seminar included Olympic gold medalist and WADA ExCo member, Dr. Koji Murofushi, and WADA Athlete Council Chair and Executive Committee member, Ryan Pini. In addition, other WADA staff members were in attendance, including Director of the Asia/Oceania Office, Kazuhiro Hayashi; Director of Compliance, Rules and Standards, Kevin Haynes; and Director of NADO/RADO Relations, Tom May, who will also participate in an anti-doping education workshop on Thursday.