WADA Executive Committee sets up Working Group on Contaminations

Today, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) Executive Committee (ExCo) held its first meeting of the year, during which members received a range of updates and took a number of decisions aimed at strengthening the global anti-doping system – the main ones being summarized below.  

Cottier Report 

In September 2024, the Independent Prosecutor, Eric Cottier, appointed to carry out a review of WADA’s handling of the no-fault contamination cases involving 23 Chinese swimmers in 2021, delivered his final report (the Cottier Report), which concluded that WADA showed no bias towards China; that its decision not to appeal the cases to the Court of Arbitration for Sport was reasonable; and that it followed the rules at all times. The Cottier Report also made a number of observations, and a Working Group was set up by the ExCo to turn the Cottier Report findings into tangible improvements to the global anti-doping system. Today, the ExCo received an update on the status of the implementation of the Working Group’s recommendations.  

Following that update, which showed that each of the recommendations had already been implemented or was in progress and on track, according to the agreed timeline, the ExCo approved the creation of the WADA Working Group on Contaminations (WGC), including its Terms of Reference and Composition. The WGC will be responsible for conducting a global review on sources of contamination leading to adverse analytical findings (AAFs) and anti-doping rule violations (ADRVs) in sport. It will also provide guidance and recommendations to the ExCo on potential improvements to the regulations and processes to further take into account the risk of such contaminations, while also maintaining an efficient anti-doping system. 

WADA President, Witold Bańka, said: “As has been highlighted recently by the Chinese swimmers cases and several other cases, the issue of contamination is real and growing. It is crucial that WADA and its clean sport partners address it head on. More and more, we are seeing those who test positive put forward contamination defenses. Our challenge is to distinguish between cases of genuine contamination versus those who dishonestly seek to use it in an attempt to avoid sanction. It is a fine balance. If the system is too strict and rigid, innocent athletes will suffer injustice. If the system is too lenient, cheats will prosper. This is one of the key challenges that the clean sport community now faces.”  

“This new Working Group will help us plot the way forward, complementing wider WADA initiatives, such as WADA’s Taskforce on Unintentional Doping which will shortly be calling for input from the community on this topic. In addition, in the context of the ongoing World Anti-Doping Code (Code) and International Standard update process, WADA’s Code Drafting Team is reflecting on this problem and considering the need for regulatory improvements with the goal of ensuring harmonization and consistency for athletes. This is a complex and nuanced area of anti-doping in which WADA always strives to strike the right balance for the good of athletes and clean sport.” 

Also coming from the implementation of the Cottier Report observations, the ExCo discussed the setting up of a Working Group on the Operational Independence of National Anti-Doping Organizations (WGOI) to explore further the issue of National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) independence, which is mandatory under the Code. A decision on the establishment of the WGOI will be made by the ExCo in due course. 

Enhanced Games 

During his report to the ExCo, WADA Director General Olivier Niggli highlighted the issue of the Enhanced Games, the event that allows and encourages athletes to take prohibited substances. According to the organizers, they are preparing to announce a venue for the event, which they say will be in the United States.  

Mr. Niggli said: “WADA unconditionally condemns the Enhanced Games as an unsafe and irresponsible project. Whether from WADA, the International Federations, Governments, National Anti-Doping Organizations or from among the athletes, everyone within the global anti-doping community should speak out strongly and put forward a united front against this dangerous experiment. Allowing this event to go ahead would put the health of athletes and the integrity of sport at grave risk.” 

Chair of WADA’s Athlete Council, Ryan Pini OLY, MBE, OL, said: “The Athlete Council is firmly opposed to the so-called Enhanced Games and any event that promotes the use of performance-enhancing substances and methods. These Games represent a dangerous and reckless concept that disregards athletes' health and well-being. If history has taught us anything, it is that the use of performance-enhancing substances has taken a devastating physical and mental toll on many athletes around the world. To encourage such an event is both irresponsible and unacceptable. 

“As advocates of clean sport, we strongly discourage any athlete from participating in these Games. Instead, we urge all athletes who believe in fair competition and athlete well-being to make their voices heard. Now more than ever, we must stand united in our commitment to protecting athletes and ensuring sport remains a space of integrity, safety, and respect.” 

Funding 

In connection with the Finance section of the agenda, the ExCo discussed and expressed concern regarding the shortfall in WADA’s 2024 funding due to the withholding of funding by the previous United States administration. Members emphasized the importance of Governments respecting the commitment made when WADA was founded in 1999, whereby the Sport Movement and governments of the world came together with a joint commitment to finance WADA’s budget. A material reduction in contributions ultimately penalizes the global anti-doping system by forcing WADA to reduce its operational activities. As such, it is vitally important for the protection of athletes to preserve this solidarity model in order to secure WADA’s budget so that the Agency is in a position to fulfil its mission to lead the global collaborative movement for doping-free sport.  

Code Compliance  

The ExCo followed the recommendation of the Agency’s independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC) to allege the NADO of Iran as non-compliant with the Code and added the NADO of Sri Lanka to the compliance ‘watchlist’.     

The Iranian NADO has been alleged as non-compliant with the Code in connection with non-conformities that were identified through the Code Compliance Questionnaire (CCQ) exercise in the area of testing. The proposed consequences and reinstatement conditions for the Iranian NADO can be found here. 

Under Article 9.3.1 of the International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS), a Signatory has 21 days following the date of receipt of the formal notice of non-compliance to dispute WADA’s allegation of non-compliance, and/or the proposed consequences and/or the reinstatement conditions proposed by the ExCo. For the Iranian NADO, therefore, it should be noted that the decision (including the consequences) will enter into force on 18 April 2025, unless the decision is challenged before that date. 

The ExCo also followed the recommendation of the CRC to place the NADO of Sri Lanka on the ‘watchlist’, giving it an additional four months to correct its outstanding non-conformity. 

The procedure involving the Sri Lankan NADO follows a review of its legal framework that revealed its legal system was not in line with the 2021 version of the Code. Since the issue was identified, the NADO has finalized a satisfactory corrective action plan (including draft amendments to the legal system in line with the 2021 Code and a timeline for adoption) to resolve the non-conformity within four months (by 28 July 2025) therefore meeting the criteria of the ‘watchlist’ as stated in Article 8.4.5 of the ISCCS. By being placed on the ‘watchlist’, if the NADO fails to correct its outstanding issue within the timeline, as per Article 8.4.5 of the ISCCS, WADA shall automatically send the NADO a formal notice alleging non-compliance and proposing consequences and reinstatement conditions. 

World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards Update 

The ExCo was briefed on the main activities undertaken since its previous meeting in December 2024 regarding the 2027 Code and International Standards update process. The process, which launched in 2023, will culminate in the approval of the new Code and Standards in December 2025, with any changes coming into effect on 1 January 2027. 

In February, WADA launched the fifth and penultimate phase of the process, namely the third consultation phase, where all stakeholders – including athletes – have a further opportunity to provide their comments, suggestions and feedback on the latest drafts of the Code and Standards. Following this final round of consultation, the drafting teams will carefully consider all feedback before finalizing the documents that will be presented for discussion at the September 2025 ExCo meeting. The final versions will then be submitted for approval during the Sixth World Conference on Doping in Sport to be held in Busan, Republic of Korea, in December 2025. 

2025 Scientific Research Grants (Cycle 1) 

The ExCo approved funding recommendations for research proposals as part of WADA’s 2025 Cycle 1 call for scientific research grants. In all, four projects were selected for funding in this cycle, from a total of 28 expressions of interest, amounting to USD 439,560. Details of these projects will be published on WADA’s website in the coming months once the individual contracts are signed. 

The remaining funds in the 2025 research budget will be used to support Cycles 2 and 3, as well as being allocated to already identified targeted projects in areas such as glucocorticoids, contaminants, and reference materials. 

Social Science Research  

The ExCo approved WADA’s Social Science Research (SSR) Strategy 2025-2029, which builds upon the achievements delivered by the previous strategy (2020-2024) and aims to further integrate social science research into anti-doping efforts. The new strategy will be published shortly. 

Under this strategy, the ExCo approved the recommendations of WADA’s Education Committee for SSR grants totaling USD 484,765 of funding under the 2025 SSR Grant Program. The grants will cover 10 research projects at local, regional and global levels. 

Nominations Committee and Athlete Member Appointments to Standing Committees 

The ExCo approved the reappointment of Regine Buettner from Germany as an independent member and Kelly Fairweather from South Africa as the Sport Movement member on WADA’s Nominations Committee for further three-year terms until May 2028.  

The ExCo also approved the appointment of Ryan Pini from Papua New Guinea and Yuhan Tan from Belgium, as the members selected by WADA’s Athlete Council to represent the Council on the 2025 WADA Finance and Administration Committee and the 2025 WADA Health, Medical and Research Committee, respectively.  

Future Meetings  
 
29 May 2025 (Virtual)  
Extraordinary Foundation Board meeting to elect the President and Vice-President (terms starting January 2026) 

11 September 2025 (Prague, Czech Republic)  
Executive Committee meeting  

2 December 2025 (Busan, Republic of Korea) 
Executive Committee meeting

3-5 December 2025 (Busan, Republic of Korea)  
World Conference on Doping in Sport 

5 December 2025 (Busan, Republic of Korea) 
Foundation Board meeting  

More about the WADA ExCo  

WADA is composed of a 42-member Foundation Board, which is the Agency’s highest policy-making body, and the 16-person ExCo, which is delegated by the Board to manage the running of the Agency, including the performance of activities and the administration of assets.    

The ExCo is composed of five representatives from the Sport Movement, five representatives from Governments of the world, the independent Chair of WADA’s Athlete Council and five other independent members, including the President and Vice-President. Currently, almost half of the Board and ExCo members are active or former international-level athletes.