BELGRADE, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- The World Anti-Doping Agency Executive Committee on Thursday unanimously approved measures aimed at strengthening the independence of anti-doping testing at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, while also endorsing the 2027 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods.
Under the measures, which take effect January 1, 2027, host National Anti-Doping Organizations will not be involved in test distribution planning or selecting athletes for testing at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Host NADOs and sample collection personnel from the host country will also be restricted from testing athletes representing that country, except when such arrangements are not reasonably practicable.
WADA President Witold Banka said the changes would strengthen confidence in the global anti-doping system.
"I welcome today's unanimous decision by the Executive Committee, which further strengthens the credibility of the global anti-doping system," Banka said. "Ultimately, it was agreed that independence was needed to bolster athlete confidence, to protect NADOs from possible criticism, and to ensure the integrity of the system."
WADA Athlete Council Chair Ryan Pini said the provision was "not a criticism of National Anti-Doping Organizations," adding that removing potential conflicts where reasonably possible would strengthen trust in the system.
WADA Director General Olivier Niggli acknowledged concerns raised during stakeholder consultations over the cost and logistics of implementing the changes.
"As such, this measure will be applied to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as by International Federations to their major events when they consider it appropriate to do so," he said.
The decision came despite opposition from the United States. In a September 4 letter to IOC President Kirsty Coventry, U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Sara Carter urged IOC representatives on the WADA Executive Committee to vote against the changes.
Carter argued that the measures could increase costs, create logistical difficulties for organizers of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and hamper efforts to deliver what she called the "cleanest Olympic Games in history."
The United States automatically lost its seat on the WADA Executive Committee after failing to pay its 2024 annual contribution.
The Executive Committee also approved the 2027 Prohibited List, with limited changes from the current version. The list will be published before October 1 and take effect January 1, 2027. ■
