WADA launches stakeholder consultation process regarding proposed additions to the World Anti-Doping Code addressing voluntary withholding of funding by a government

Deadline to submit feedback is 15 October 2024. 

Further to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) Executive Committee meeting of 12 September, today WADA is launching a stakeholder consultation process regarding proposed additions to the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code (Code), which address the matter of voluntary withholding of funding by a government.  

Background 

The proposed additions to the Code stem from concerns having been expressed over the past years by ExCo members that the global anti-doping system must be protected by introducing additional consequences for governments that voluntarily withhold⁽¹⁾ their contribution to WADA's approved annual budget.   

WADA was founded in 1999 with a unique funding model; whereby, the Sport Movement and governments of the world came together, in recognition of the need to combat doping in sport, with a commitment to finance WADA’s budget in equal shares.   

If a government does not pay its contribution, this has a double impact as the withheld amount will not be matched by the Sport Movement. A material reduction in contributions will ultimately penalize the global anti-doping system by forcing WADA to reduce its operational activities, such as: scientific and social science research, education, capacity building, engagement with stakeholders, etc.  

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. 

⁽¹⁾ A voluntary withholding is considered a failure by a government to pay all or part of its annual contribution to WADA’s approved annual budget for reasons other than mandatory constraints, which are factual and unforeseeable circumstances that are beyond its control that prevent it to pay, e.g. international sanctions, state of war or similar circumstances.  

About the stakeholder consultation 

Further to WADA’s May 2022 ExCo meeting, an ad hoc WADA working group was established that resulted in a Voluntary Withholding of Funding by a Government Paper (Paper), which was approved by WADA’s ExCo in March 2024 as a basis for further drafting and supporting the consultation.   

The Paper described what was meant by voluntary withholding of funding and set out the consequences as well as the process for imposing them. Some of the consequences -- concerning limitations on the relevant country bidding for major events, as well as restrictions on its government representatives attending major events and sitting on Code Signatory boards/committees etc. -- will require implementation by certain Signatories. As such, the implementation of these consequences will require a number of limited additions to the Code. These additions will not in principle require implementation by Signatories in their own legal framework.  

The proposed additions have been drafted to supplement the required changes to WADA’s Statutes and new internal WADA regulations regarding consequences. 

Following the stakeholder consultation process on the additional Code provisions, WADA will consider the feedback received and make any necessary adjustments to those provisions. The Code provisions, together with the other documents, would then be considered again by the ExCo with ExCo recommended versions requiring approval by WADA’s Foundation Board. The effective date of the Code provisions will depend on when the Board approval takes place.  

To Submit Feedback 

To submit feedback regarding the proposed additions to the Code, please access WADAConnect, the Agency’s online consultation platform. For further context, the current version of the Paper, which is referenced above, has also been made available on the platform as a resource document.  

Easy to use, WADAConnect will prompt you to create a user account and input your comments. Should you have questions regarding the platform, please refer to the simple user guide. 

Stakeholders are asked to be as specific and clear as possible with their feedback, i.e. by proposing text to replace the proposed amendments. 

It should be noted that this consultation process is separate from the larger 2027 Code and International Standards update process that is currently underway.   

We look forward to receiving your feedback by 15 October 2024. 

If you have any questions, please contact code@wada-ama.org.