Dear NADO leaders summit! Thank you for your clear statement: https://www.ukad.org.uk/news/article/international-anti-doping-leaders-call-on-watershed-opportunity-to-reform-a/ Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your crucial questions regarding the future anti-doping work. I am happy to answer your request for clarity from the candidates. Here is my respons: Question: First, WADA governance revisions must go further to fully implement the reforms detailed in the Copenhagen Proposals. By removing potential conflicts of interest within WADA's current governance structure, the organization will increase its credibility in the eyes of its most important stakeholders: clean athletes. Answer: A top priority must be the governance reform. After twenty years of existence, e WADA needsto evolve. I have an unquenchable thirst for fair and honest sport. It can be achieved through building on a solid structure and at the same time modernising WADA so that it becomes fit to tackle today's challenges. and one that has the confidence and respect of athletes as well as the public. I would ensure that WADA listens to its stakeholders in all decision-making processes. We need more engaging Executive Committee and Foundation Board meetings with focused and dynamic discussions on important issues. Greater opportunities for members to bring issues forward for consideration at upcoming meetings. The vice president should be more involved in all decision-making in WADA. There should be robust consultation on key issues, including compilation of stakeholder feedback to be made available to all members. Results of hearings should also be made public. A highlight of the financial and administrative consequences for WADA and stakeholders of WADA board decisions is necessary. It`s crucial with stronger emphasis on diversity, be it diversity by gender, geographical representation, age or background. I believe WADA should become a model example for modern best-practices of openness and transparency. This includes an open and public decision-making process as a matter of principle, granting World Anti-Doping Code and UNESCO Convention signatories full access to WADA Foundation Board papers, an open distribution of board papers to stakeholders and the media and Q&A sessions at each Foundation Board meeting, where board members can raise any issue outside the agenda and where the president, vice-president and director general respond. We must secure that WADA's governing bodies and committees are free of undue influence from both governments and sport, create a more representative WADA Foundation Board with the capability to make decisions in areas ranging from budget to strategy and continue to develop a more independent WADA Executive Committee. Q: Second, WADA Presidential Candidates should demonstrate how they will be fully committed to meaningful engagement with the athletes of the world. For too long, there has been no effective mechanism to allow for the voice of clean athletes to be heard and this must change moving forward. A: We must empower athletes to speak up, to voice their opinions and make the changes they would like to see. I would be proud to champion amplification of the athlete voice and improve athlete representation on WADA's boards and committees. I would alsosterngten the power of the WADA Athlete Committee. I want to see athletes front and centre of a reformed WADA as we enter a new age of anti-doping. For the benefit of all. Rule of law - the principle that all athletes are subject to a consistent, commonly understood set of global clean sport rules as articulated in the World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards. WADA, as the world's regulator, must be the organization that ensures athletes can compete clean without any complicated or unclear rules. We must strengthen initiatives like the WADA clearinghouse system - Anti-Doping Administration and Management System, or ADAMS as it is known. Initiatives like the phone app, make it easier for athletes and others to manage anti-doping and to understand. As an athlete-centred president, I will prioritise the implementation of the Charter's core principles in the 2021 World Anti- Doping Code. This would include: * Right to justice * Equitable and fair testing programmes * Protection of health * Freedom of expression * Right to education Independence is an essential ingredient in restoring athlete trust in the anti-doping system. That is why I will ensure that athletes can appoint an independent ombudsperson with the power to advise, report and make recommendations. A person who represents athletes and protects their rights and interests impartially and fairly. Athletes are highly dependent on their coaches, and we must ensure that an athlete's entourage is held responsible for its actions. The athletes need avenues to discuss issues and concerns so that they can contribute to the development of anti-doping policy. WADA under my presidency would hold the Global Athlete Forum regularly, and aspire for the event to become an annual fixture on the clean sport calendar, with athletes, athlete groups and other organizations all invited. This would also be an opportunity for athlete elections to take place, with nominations and elections of athlete representatives to WADA's Boards and Committees. "ATHLETES MUST BECOME THE BEATING HEART OF ANTI-DOPING" Q: Third, WADA Presidential Candidates must build on the organization's success at retrieving the Moscow laboratory data by being committed to ensuring an exhaustive, transparent and thorough accounting of the data is achieved. Based on previous reports from WADA, there are thousands of presumptive positive samples in the Moscow laboratory data that must be investigated. Athletes are demanding that this review is completed in a transparent manner, which includes reporting the exact number of presumptive positive findings and how each finding has been managed. This process will take months, possibly years, and a future WADA President must not try to turn the page from this scandal, but be committed to a full investigation and pursuit of justice - no matter the cost or time. The NADO Leaders reiterate their offer to assist WADA in these matters. A: WADA must be the leader of antidoping efforts worldwide. There should never be any doubt about WADAs willingness to get to the bottom of any case or situation, regardless of the size of a country or the strength of a national or international organization. WADA must always seek the truth and not compromise when it comes to justice for wrongdoings. That’s why it has been so important to get to the bottom of the Russian scandal. Now is the time to make sure that all data is duly examined and scrutinized. And not least followed up in the most comprehensive way. All potential rule violations must be brought to court and due process pursued. There must be no doubt amongst athletes and the public that WADA does everything in its power to get through this saga in a trustworthy manner.

2019-03-13 08:08:07

Orginalt innlegg på Facebook

Latest news from UK Anti-Doping

Latest news from UK Anti-Doping