Michael McNamee new Chair of WADA's Ethics Expert Advisory Group
Press Release
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is pleased to announce that, effective 1 May 2021, Professor Michael McNamee, who holds Professorships in Ethics at KU Leuven, Belgium, and Swansea University, Wales, UK assumed the role of Chair of WADA’s Ethics Expert Advisory Group.
Professor McNamee replaces Professor Bartha Knoppers -- Canada Research Chair in Law and Medicine; and, Director of the Centre of Genomics and Policy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Human Genetics, McGill University -- who has stepped down after 18 years on the Advisory Group, including five as its Chair.
WADA Director General, Olivier Niggli, said: “WADA welcomes Professor Michael McNamee as Chair of the Agency’s Ethics Expert Advisory Group. Professor McNamee’s breadth of experience and expertise in ethics related to anti-doping policy, sports, genetics, medical and scientific research will bring valuable guidance to the Agency. I also wish to thank outgoing Chair Bartha Knoppers whose dedication and insight have been of great support to WADA over the many years of her involvement.”
Formed in 2004, the Ethics Expert Advisory Group is assembled annually by WADA Management. In addition to Professor McNamee, the Group is currently composed of the following members:
- Dr. Silvia Camporesi, Italy/United Kingdom
- Professor Timothy Caulfield, Canada
- Professor Sigmund Loland, Norway
- Ms. Andréanne Morin, Canada
- Professor Ambroise Wonkam, South Africa
In keeping with its Terms of Reference, the Advisory Group provides independent expert ethical opinion when required through the review of urgent or contentious ethical issues that may arise in the fight against doping in sport; and, to develop and/or recommend ethically sound policy or suggestions to WADA Management and governing bodies. On an ongoing basis, the Advisory Group engages primarily with WADA Management in the areas of testing, science, medicine and legal affairs; regarding matters such as athlete whereabouts, research consent, and access to Athlete Biological Passport data; and, they remain ready to address any emerging anti-doping matters with potential ethical implications.
It should be noted that the Ethics Expert Advisory Group was previously known as the WADA Ethics Panel; however, in 2019, the name was changed to avoid possible confusion with WADA’s future Independent Ethics Board – which was one of the recommendations made by the Agency’s Governance Working Group and approved by WADA’s Board in November 2018. The Independent Ethics Board will be formed later this year to address specific governance-related issues. For more information, please refer to the Governance page of WADA’s website.
