Geneva: The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have entered into a four-year memorandum of understanding (MOU), enabling experts from both organizations to collaborate and exchange information regarding the areas where anti-doping and public health intersect.
The agreement between WHO and WADA will be in effect until October 1, 2027. It serves as a collaborative framework to advance their shared goals, particularly in promoting health, preventing substance abuse including emerging drugs, and advocating for fair play in sports. The MOU was signed in Geneva, Switzerland, by WADA President, Witold Bańka, and WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Speaking on the collaboration, WADA President, Witold Bańka stated, ‘The memorandum of understanding signed today with the World Health Organization is a watershed moment that will benefit anti-doping efforts worldwide. WADA leads the global collaborative mission for doping-free sport; and, in so doing, we also protect the health of individuals around the world. One of the three criteria for a substance to be added to WADA’s Prohibited List of Substances and Methods is if it represents an actual or potential health risk to athletes. Through our agreement with WHO, experts from both organizations will be able to work collaboratively to exchange information on emerging substances and reinforce scientific positions that will ultimately benefit not only athletes, but society as a whole.’
‘WHO’s commitment to health and well-being of society at large fits perfectly with our mission. I want to thank Dr Tedros and his team at WHO for their efforts leading up to this historic agreement and for their commitment to healthy, clean sport around the globe,’ added Banka.
WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, ‘Partnering with WADA reflected WHO’s commitment to work closely with the sport sector to encourage increased physical activity globally and promoting healthier lives for all.’
‘Sport and all forms of physical activity are essential to good health, and competitive sport plays a key role in inspiring people to be more active. The use of performance-enhancing substances can harm athletes, and certainly harms sport and those who look up to athletes as role-models. Keeping sport clean, therefore, has benefits beyond the sporting arena for the health and well-being of individuals and societies everywhere,’ he said.
The MOU include:
- Prevention and assessment of health risks associated with psychoactive substance use and related disorders, with a focus on doping compounds and substance use among athletes;
- Awareness raising and advocacy for clean sport and substance misuse prevention worldwide;
- Raising awareness through education initiatives with the support of goodwill ambassadors and influencers to drive positive change;
- Collaboration on sub-standard and falsified medical products, including identification of new emerging psychoactive drugs through sharing of information, mutual support, and engagement with sport federations; and
- Reporting on abuse and misuse of falsified and sub-standard medical products in sport.
The MOU also aligns with both organizations’ common objective of achieving the United Nations Sustainable Goal 3: Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages.
