Background Information
“WADA is committed to protecting the rights of clean athletes, where hard work and talent are justly recognized and doping cheats are exposed for what they are. Clean sport is fundamental to a healthy society and sets the best example for future generations of athletes.”
- John Fahey AC., WADA President
About WADA
WADA, which stands for World Anti-Doping Agency, was first established on November 10, 1999 as an "international independent agency composed and funded equally by the sport movement and governments of the world," (WADA, 2011). Headquarters are located in both Canada and in Switzerland.
The main functions of WADA include education, scientific research, development of anti-doping capacities, and monitoring the World Anti-Doping Code which is "the document harmonizing anti-doping policies in all sports and all countries," (WADA, 2011).
The need for athletic testing was discovered in the 1920s. The first International Sport Federation (IF) to ban the use of stimulating substances within athletics was the IAAF; which then led to other IFs to follow their lead, however, no real testing was conducted and doping was still considered to be a serious problem within sports.
After several athletes deaths, and autopsies confirming substance abuse, drug testing was introduced in 1968 at the Winter Olympic games and the Olympic Games in Mexico.
The main functions of WADA include education, scientific research, development of anti-doping capacities, and monitoring the World Anti-Doping Code which is "the document harmonizing anti-doping policies in all sports and all countries," (WADA, 2011).
The need for athletic testing was discovered in the 1920s. The first International Sport Federation (IF) to ban the use of stimulating substances within athletics was the IAAF; which then led to other IFs to follow their lead, however, no real testing was conducted and doping was still considered to be a serious problem within sports.
After several athletes deaths, and autopsies confirming substance abuse, drug testing was introduced in 1968 at the Winter Olympic games and the Olympic Games in Mexico.
WADA: The Strategic Plan
Since the development of WADA, the agency has developed and revised a Strategic Plan that continues to guide the work, research, and education of the organization. The most recent plan was revised in 2011 and is composed of 8 Strategic Objectives that will be implemented to promote a "collaborative worldwide campaign for doping-free sport," (WADA Strategic Plan, 2011).
The following 8 Strategic Objectives for WADA are listed below, however to access the full WADA Strategic Plan an Adobe download link is located below the points.
1. Provide comprehensive leadership on current and emerging issues and in
the communication of effective strategies and programs in the campaign for
doping-free sport.
2. Achieve compliance by all anti-doping and international sport organizations
with the Code to honour the rights of clean athletes and maintain the integrity
of sport.
3. Generate universal involvement of public authorities and public leaders in the
campaign against doping in sport, and in particular encourage national laws
to allow the sharing of evidence gathered or collected through investigations
and inquiries by appropriate bodies.
4. Promote an international framework for education programs that instil the
values of doping-free sport.
5. Promote universal awareness of the ethical aspects and health, legal and
social consequences of doping so that stakeholders use that knowledge in
their interaction with and education of athletes to prevent doping, protect
health and the integrity of sport.
6. Implement an international scientific research program and foster an international
scientific research environment and expert network that monitors
and predicts trends in doping science and actively promotes reliable research
outcomes in the effective development, improvement and implementation of
detection methods.
7. Lead, assist and perform oversight so that every accredited anti-doping
laboratory performs at a level consistent with international standards.
8. Be a respected organization whose corporate governance and operating
standards reflect international best practice.
The following 8 Strategic Objectives for WADA are listed below, however to access the full WADA Strategic Plan an Adobe download link is located below the points.
1. Provide comprehensive leadership on current and emerging issues and in
the communication of effective strategies and programs in the campaign for
doping-free sport.
2. Achieve compliance by all anti-doping and international sport organizations
with the Code to honour the rights of clean athletes and maintain the integrity
of sport.
3. Generate universal involvement of public authorities and public leaders in the
campaign against doping in sport, and in particular encourage national laws
to allow the sharing of evidence gathered or collected through investigations
and inquiries by appropriate bodies.
4. Promote an international framework for education programs that instil the
values of doping-free sport.
5. Promote universal awareness of the ethical aspects and health, legal and
social consequences of doping so that stakeholders use that knowledge in
their interaction with and education of athletes to prevent doping, protect
health and the integrity of sport.
6. Implement an international scientific research program and foster an international
scientific research environment and expert network that monitors
and predicts trends in doping science and actively promotes reliable research
outcomes in the effective development, improvement and implementation of
detection methods.
7. Lead, assist and perform oversight so that every accredited anti-doping
laboratory performs at a level consistent with international standards.
8. Be a respected organization whose corporate governance and operating
standards reflect international best practice.
wada_strategic_plan_2011-2016_en.pdf | |
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Australia & WADA
In 2006 Australia developed a model that "solidifies cooperation between the anti-doping authority and other government agencies," (WADA 2009) called the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) and is recognized as a government agency.
While ASADA does not have the power to seize or search for substances, there are other ways that ASADA implements power. The example from the WADA website is as follows, "For example, customs officials who seize illegal substances may forward to ASADA the details of the intended recipients. With the supply of such information from other agencies, ASADA is able to identify athletes suspected of doping, and then is able to concentrate its resources on them, including targeted testing," (2009). This approach seems to be effective and has been implemented by other organizations as well.
Despite Australia's attempt at a successful model, Australian athletes have been the focus of recent doping incidents within the past year, especially within the AFL, the Australian Football League.
While ASADA does not have the power to seize or search for substances, there are other ways that ASADA implements power. The example from the WADA website is as follows, "For example, customs officials who seize illegal substances may forward to ASADA the details of the intended recipients. With the supply of such information from other agencies, ASADA is able to identify athletes suspected of doping, and then is able to concentrate its resources on them, including targeted testing," (2009). This approach seems to be effective and has been implemented by other organizations as well.
Despite Australia's attempt at a successful model, Australian athletes have been the focus of recent doping incidents within the past year, especially within the AFL, the Australian Football League.
Doping in the AFL
The most recent doping scandal that has greatly impacted the AFL involves the Essendon Football Club, more commonly known as The Bombers. What makes this doping case even more interesting compared to other doping scandals, that usually only feature articles regarding the players who have used illegal doping substances, The Bombers' coach, James Hird, is in the spotlight for injecting WADA banned drugs.
According to Alison Caldwell, a reporter from abc.net.au, "The drug Stephen Dank claims James Hird injected, Hexarelin, can be injected to stimulate the release of growth hormones to increase strength and aid recovery. It's banned by WADA," (2013). According to former sports scientist Stephen Dank, Hird injected himself with a drug that is black-listed by WADA. Dank also stated that players on the team were given an anti-obesity drug, AOD9604, that is also banned.
On April 12, 2013 it was confirmed by The Australian Herald Times that Hird was definitely injected, but from what he believed to be "legal amino acids," which Dank is declaring to be "Hexarelin, reputed to increase human growth hormone levels and banned by WADA since 2004," and "a second injection contained Melanotan II, used by bodybuilders to look tanned and reputed to improve their sex drive," (2013).
James Hird was a former player on The Bombers and became head coach in 2011. He was a former captain of the team and even is a Brownlow medalist receiver. Hird is still denying these accusations regarding using black-listed drugs.
Today, interviews and investigating of the situation are still taking place with both the players and Hird. However, the most surprising fact of this situation is that technically Hird is not breaking the WADA code by taking this drug. According to Richard Ings, the former head of ASADA, "Coaches under the World Anti-Doping Agency code are not banned from the use of any performance enhancing drugs which would be banned for the use by their players," (2013).
So if him taking these banned drugs isn't illegal, why is Hird receiving all of the media coverage?
According to Alison Caldwell, a reporter from abc.net.au, "The drug Stephen Dank claims James Hird injected, Hexarelin, can be injected to stimulate the release of growth hormones to increase strength and aid recovery. It's banned by WADA," (2013). According to former sports scientist Stephen Dank, Hird injected himself with a drug that is black-listed by WADA. Dank also stated that players on the team were given an anti-obesity drug, AOD9604, that is also banned.
On April 12, 2013 it was confirmed by The Australian Herald Times that Hird was definitely injected, but from what he believed to be "legal amino acids," which Dank is declaring to be "Hexarelin, reputed to increase human growth hormone levels and banned by WADA since 2004," and "a second injection contained Melanotan II, used by bodybuilders to look tanned and reputed to improve their sex drive," (2013).
James Hird was a former player on The Bombers and became head coach in 2011. He was a former captain of the team and even is a Brownlow medalist receiver. Hird is still denying these accusations regarding using black-listed drugs.
Today, interviews and investigating of the situation are still taking place with both the players and Hird. However, the most surprising fact of this situation is that technically Hird is not breaking the WADA code by taking this drug. According to Richard Ings, the former head of ASADA, "Coaches under the World Anti-Doping Agency code are not banned from the use of any performance enhancing drugs which would be banned for the use by their players," (2013).
So if him taking these banned drugs isn't illegal, why is Hird receiving all of the media coverage?