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WADA launches third phase of 2021 Code Review Process and second phase for International Standards

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English

Press Release

10th December 2018

The Agency also launches a review phase of the Anti-Doping Charter of Athlete Rights

On 12 December 2017, and 4 June 2018 respectively, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) launched the first and second phases of a three-phase, 2021 World Anti-Doping Code Review Process (2021 Code Review Process), which also involves review of the International Standards (Standards).

Today, the Agency launches:

I. The third review phase of the 2021 Code Review Process
II. The second review phase of a number of International Standards
III. The first and only review phase of the Anti-Doping Charter of Athlete Rights (Charter)

The whole review process culminates with approval at WADA’s next World Conference on Doping in Sport, which is to be held in Katowice, Poland in November 2019; after which, the revised 2021 Code and Standards will take effect on 1 January 2021.

I.  CODE REVIEW: THIRD REVIEW PHASE

Today, WADA launches the third review phase of the 2021 Code Review Process for which the Agency is soliciting stakeholder feedback by 4 March 2019.

The third review phase is of the second draft revised version of the Code that resulted from comments received from stakeholders during the second review phase. Accordingly, we attach:

II. INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS: SECOND REVIEW PHASE

Today, WADA launches the second review phase of a number of International Standards and the first review phase of the International Standard for Results Management (ISRM), for which the Agency is also soliciting stakeholder feedback by 4 March 2019. 

In order to facilitate the review process, every Standard is listed below along with, where applicable, a Clean version, a Redline version, a Summary of major proposed changes and Comments received from stakeholders, all of which stem from the first round of consultation.

1. The International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE)is undergoing its first major review since 2015 – although there were minor updates in 2016 and 2018 – with the latter scheduled to come into force on 1 January 2019.

Following examination of stakeholder feedback, a revised version of the document was drafted and presented to WADA’s Executive Committee (ExCo) in September 2018.   

2. The International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS), which took effect on 1 April 2018.

3. The International Standard for Education (ISE), which is a new Standard that WADA’s Foundation Board (Board) approved for development in November 2017. A first draft was published for public consultation in June 2018 after it was presented to WADA’s ExCo and Board in May 2018. Following consideration of the public comments and input received through the Global Education Conference held in October 2018, a second draft is now ready for stakeholder feedback.

4. The International Standard for Results Management (ISRM), which is a new Standard. The first draft was presented to WADA’s ExCo and Board in November 2018 and is now being circulated for stakeholder consultation. This Standard will undergo a second consultation phase following the May 2019 ExCo and Board meetings.

5. The International Standard for the Protection of Privacy and Personal Information (ISPPPI), which is the new version adopted by WADA’s ExCo in May 2018 to ensure alignment with the main principles of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation that came into force on 25 May 2018.

6. The International Standard for Testing and Investigations (ISTI), which will undergo two full rounds of consultation. The ISTI was distributed for the first round of consultation with marked up text to two sections for reasons outlined below:

  • Due to issues faced with sample collection equipment earlier this year (2018), WADA appointed a small working group to enhance the criteria for equipment in the ISTI. Additional criteria have been included within Article 6.3.4 of a draft revised ISTI.
  • Over the past few years, WADA has received input from stakeholders, particularly Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) experts and Athlete Passport Management Units (APMUs), which proposed changes to Annex L of the ISTI.

Following the first round of consultation on the ISTI, and consideration of all comments from stakeholders regarding changes to the above two sections of the Standard, WADA’s ExCo approved all proposed changes at their meeting in November 2018; and, the revised ISTI will come into effect on 1 March 2019.

7. The International Standard for Laboratories (ISL), which is a particular situation. It should be noted that a revised version (v.10.0) of the ISL was already circulated to WADA-accredited laboratories for comment from 2 March to 30 April 2018; and, a second version was circulated to all stakeholders from 14 July to 14 September 2018. This particular review of the ISL was triggered by some urgent changes that could not reasonably wait until 2021. However, the ISL v.10.0 was not approved by the WADA ExCo as presented at its meeting in November 2018. The ExCo requested that the ISL v.10.0 be subject to a further round of stakeholder consultation before it could be considered for approval in May 2019. If approved, it is foreseen that the ISL v.10.0 will come into force in late 2019. The ISL may then undergo further revision in 2020 to bring it in line with the 2021 Code.

8. The International Standard for the Prohibited List is not part of the review process as it is reviewed annually via a separate stakeholder consultation.

As is the case for the Code Review, each Standard has dedicated drafting teams comprised of senior WADA staff and external experts that act as the review secretariat.

III. ANTI-DOPING CHARTER OF ATHLETE RIGHTS: FIRST AND ONLY REVIEW PHASE

Today, WADA launches the first, and only, review phase of the Anti-Doping Charter of Athlete Rights (Charter), for which WADA is also soliciting stakeholder feedback by 4 March 2019.

The goal of the Charter, which has been developed by WADA’s Athlete Committee, is to clearly outline athlete rights with respect to the fight against doping in sport. While athletes’ responsibilities towards clean sport are set out in the Code, the Charter aims to further support athletes worldwide in their right to compete in clean, ethical and fair sport.

The Charter is a standalone document. This latest draft includes a section containing 'actual' rights and a section containing 'aspirational' rights, with the 'actual rights' being referenced to the relevant sections of the Code or the International Standards. 

The idea of developing the Charter was first tested by WADA’s Athlete Committee at WADA’s Annual Symposium in March 2017. After being well received by Symposium participants, the Committee followed up by conducting a global athlete survey as to its desired content. Since then, the Charter has been presented for discussion and feedback at various WADA events in 2018; including, the 2018 Annual Symposium in March; the first Global Athlete Forum in June; the ExCo and Board meetings in November; and, the various meetings of the Code Drafting Team.

WADA particularly encourages athletes to comment on the draft Charter.

[Note: At this point, the Code, Standard and Charter documents are available in English only.]

Monday, 10 December 2018