The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)’s Foundation Board on Friday elected its next Chairman and Vice Chairman at the World Conference on Doping in Sport in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Britain’s Sir Craig Reedie, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Vice President, was, as a representative of the sport movement, appointed WADA’s next Chair. The 72-year-old will begin a two-year term to replace outgoing Australian John Fahey on January 1, 2014.
South African Ambassador to Germany, H.E. Rev. Makhenkesi Arnold Stofile, a former Executive Committee and Foundation Board Member who will represent public authorities, was appointed WADA’s Vice President.
Following the new functionality added in September to the Haematological Module of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP), the Steroidal Module has been integrated into ADAMS’ existing ABP functionality.
The ABP steroidal module in ADAMS will greatly enhance the effectiveness of testing programs that utilize ADAMS by automating the assessment of individual athlete steroid profiles.
Budget increase
Following two years of budgets being frozen, WADA’s Foundation Board confirmed that the Agency would be receiving a slight budget increase, of 1% for 2014. In addition, members will meet their travel costs, which will represent an effective budgetary saving of over US$500,000.
Whilst only a marginal increase, WADA is appreciative that additional funding is to be devoted to the most pressing issue facing sport today – the fight against doping.
“After two consecutive years of receiving a zero-percent increase, WADA is very appreciative that its budget has been given a slight increase, particularly given the continuing economic difficulties in many parts of the world”, said WADA President John Fahey.
Social Science Research
Following recommendations by the Education Committee, and approval by the Executive Committee, WADA’s Foundation Board confirmed social science research projects under the 2014 Social Science Research Grant Program (SSRGP).
In total, 42 applications from 20 countries were received for the 2014 Social Science Research Program.
The Foundation Board approved five open research projects to be used for target research in 2014.
“With education and research at the heart of WADA’s mission, Social Science Research remains a crucial part of our role”, said John Fahey.
“It is essential that WADA’s anti-doping education programs and initiatives be based on scientific knowledge and evidence, and that is why we must continue to prioritize this type of research”.
Enhancements will be made to rules and processes to assist signatories with the implementation of more effective and intelligent anti-doping programs moving forward.
WADA will then be responsible for an effective monitoring process once the Code and International Standards have been approved. The compliance and monitoring process will be approved by the Foundation Board in May 2014.
