2026 New Year Message to the Anti-Doping Community from WADA President and Director General

MONTREAL: On behalf of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), we would like to wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year. We hope that, like us, you are feeling revitalized and eager to work together to advance clean sport in 2026.

Before we forge ahead, we would like to take a moment to thank you all for your ongoing collaboration and dedication. December’s approval of the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code (Code) and International Standards (Standards), during WADA’s sixth World Conference on Doping in Sport in Busan, Republic of South Korea, marked the culmination of years of effort. It is the best example of how the whole anti-doping community works together to ensure that the rules evolve with the changing world so that they remain fair, strong and designed to uphold a level playing field for athletes around the globe.

In WADA’s role as the regulator of anti-doping, the majority of our efforts and resources are dedicated to our core mandate; namely: ensuring and monitoring effective implementation of the Code and Standards; scientific and social science research; education; intelligence and investigations; and building anti-doping capacity with Anti-Doping Organizations worldwide.

While much of 2026 will focus on preparing stakeholders for January 2027 implementation of the revised Code and Standards, WADA’s current chapter is being guided by our 2025–2029 Strategic Plan. This Plan is rooted in five priorities, which are to Lead, Be Athlete Centered, Grow Impact, Collaborate and Unite, and Perform.

Rather than detailing our annual plans for these strategic priorities and core areas of activity, we would like to take this opportunity to share three key ambitions for the year:

1. To elevate the athlete experience

Building on Be Athlete Centered and Grow Impact, we have identified the following initiatives, which are dedicated to elevating the athlete experience:
Athlete Center: We will replace our current Athlete Central digital platform with Athlete Center, which, once fully developed, will be a centralized platform through which athletes can manage their whereabouts information; and also, access educational resources, view their Therapeutic Use Exemption status, and stay informed on other anti-doping matters. To ensure optimal usability, user experience and efficiency, the platform is being co-created with athletes.
Human Rights and Anti-Doping Framework: We will ensure that our commitment to protecting athletes’ fundamental right to participate in doping-free sport informs all aspects of our approach to anti-doping, thereby promoting health, fairness, and equality for athletes worldwide. Accordingly, WADA will soon publish its Public Policy Statement on Human Rights and Anti-Doping that was approved by its Foundation Board in December 2025, along with the Initial Human Rights Impact Assessment commissioned in 2022 and its Annex which documents the status of implementation for all report recommendations.
Ombuds Program: We will continue to develop the Ombuds Program to ensure it provides a useful resource for athletes when they need guidance. The Program, which was first launched in 2023, enhances fairness, accountability, and transparency of the global anti-doping system, provides advice and assistance to athletes at no cost, and promotes respect for athletes’ rights.
Athlete Anti-Doping Experience: We will build a comprehensive mapping of the athlete anti-doping experience, from all angles, identifying strengths and pain points based on athlete feedback and identifying areas where their anti-doping journey can be optimized.

2. To strengthen the global anti-doping system

Drawing from our Strategic Priorities to Lead, Grow Impact, Collaborate and Unite, and Perform, we have identified the following initiatives aimed at strengthening the global anti-doping system:
Increase Compliance Monitoring Program: We will intensify our compliance monitoring program through increased resources and stronger monitoring tools, including audits, to ensure anti-doping organizations have quality, compliant anti-doping programs, while providing more transparency on compliance data.
Strengthen the position on appeals: To ensure that disciplinary decisions are in line with the Code and fair for athletes, we will allocate additional funding to increase the number of appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity: We will leverage data analytics and AI to improve efficiency in high-impact areas, including compliance monitoring, while maintaining uncompromised security standards.
Cottier Report Recommendations Implementation: We will improve internal processes and work on strengthening anti-doping rules through the Code, especially as it pertains to contamination cases and Operational Independence of National Anti-Doping Organizations.

3. To expand the impact of science, education, and intelligence work

To deliver on the Strategic Priorities to Lead, Grow Impact, and Collaborate and Unite, we have identified the following initiatives aimed at expanding the impact of science, education, and intelligence work:
Education Solutions: We will enable access for athletes and athlete support personnel anywhere, anytime, to advance athletes’ understanding, and contribute to the prevention of doping.
Laboratory Accreditation: As emerging technologies like AI and Dried Blood Spot can contribute to reshaping anti-doping efforts, we will work to empower laboratories to evolve their analytical capabilities.
Scientific Research Grant Program: We will maintain a strong science agenda that continues to broaden research opportunities to include experts from areas such as artificial intelligence, genetics, endocrinology, and muscle physiology. Thanks to partnerships, we will increase our research capacity to keep pace with the rapidly evolving doping landscape.
I&I Capacity and Capability Project: Building on the success of the project in Europe and Asia/Oceania, we will expand to the Americas in 2026-2027, and Africa in 2028-2029 to continue supporting the increased importance of intelligence and investigations in the maturation of anti-doping worldwide.
Preparing for implementation of the 2027 Code and Standards

As referenced above, in order to help Signatories prepare for implementation of the 2027 Code and Standards, WADA will continue to deliver the Code Implementation Support Program (CISP), the aim of which is to provide simplified guidance to Signatories on the changes and requirements in the 2027 Code and Standards.

In that perspective, WADA will be hosting four Regional Symposiums in 2026 in order to address the unique needs and challenges of stakeholders in the different regions in the lead up to the implementation of the 2027 Code and Standards. The Regional Symposiums will be structured around CISP, with a strong emphasis on compliance readiness. The cities and dates of these events are as follows:
Europe: Baku, Azerbaijan on 18-19 March (Opening ceremony 17 March 2026) (Registration now open)
Africa: Cairo, Egypt on 28-29 April (Opening ceremony 27 April 2026)
Asia and Oceania: Beijing, China on 2-3 June (Intergovernmental Meeting and Opening ceremony 1 June 2026)
Americas: Lima, Peru on 1-2 July
We look forward to seeing many of you at these events, which we believe will be instrumental in building regional community and advancing the global collaborative movement for doping-free sport.

Sincerely,

Witold Bańka
President
Olivier Niggli
Director General
Save the date

17 April 2026
Play True Day 2026

2026 Regional Symposiums:

Europe: Baku, Azerbaijan on 18-19 March
Africa: Cairo, Egypt on 28-29 April
Asia and Oceania: Beijing, China on 2-3 June
Americas: Lima, Peru on 1-2 July

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Formed in 1999, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is an international independent agency composed and funded by the Sport Movement and Governments of the world. As the global regulatory body, WADA’s primary role is to develop, harmonize and coordinate anti-doping rules and policies across all sports and countries. Our key activities include: ensuring and monitoring effective implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code and its related International Standards; scientific and social science research; education; intelligence and investigations; and, building anti-doping capacity with anti-doping organizations worldwide.

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