2027 World Anti-Doping Code Review Process – Let´s connect members for support by sharing your Code Review feedback
Dear iNADO members,
Your active participation in the upcoming Code Review is crucial to shaping the future of anti-doping efforts worldwide. The World Anti-Doping Code (Code) is the key framework governing anti-doping practices in sports globally. It evolves with the changing landscape of sports and is currently undergoing a review process leading to the next version effective from January 1, 2027.
Since its inception in 2004, the Code has become more complex and more specific in its approach. The entire world anti-doping program, consisting of the Code, International Standards, and Guidelines, works together to establish comprehensive rules and requirements for anti-doping worldwide.
The Code review process is an invaluable opportunity for all stakeholders, including NADOs/RADOs, to provide valuable input on anti-doping rules, requirements, and processes. Your practical knowledge and experiences gained in the field can contribute to creating a stronger Code that protects clean athletes while ensuring reasonable rights, responsibilities, expectations, and allowances for all involved parties.
In keeping with the priorities in our Strategic plan – Building a Supportive Community; Improving Practice Everywhere; and Speaking Up for NADOs / RADOs globally – iNADO will be supporting iNADO Members during the 2027 Code Review process. For details re the process and timeline to provide feedback, see further down.
Key areas that deserve your attention - Pre-defined Concepts for Consideration
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To get things started, here is a quick summary and some initial ‘food for thought’ regarding the nine Concepts for Consideration and feedback.
Sharing Member Feedback
To facilitate collaboration, we have just opened one Code Review discussion on our Basecamp platform and invited all member contacts. Members are encouraged to share their feedback also in the following link and engage in discussions through our Basecamp platform. We will collect and summarize input from members to promote information exchange throughout the process.
These are a few questions identified by members recently that deserve your attention and will benefit from feedback:
- Should cannabis be considered a prohibited substance? Likewise, should the criteria for inclusion in the Prohibited List be reviewed?
- Are the current Operational Independence requirements for NADOs sufficient or should they be furthered strengthened?
- Which investigative powers should accompany a new Standard of Intelligence and Investigations to protect clean sport competitions?
We encourage you to consider these questions in your feedback and share it with other members via Basecamp. Where consensus is evident, iNADO will share summaries for the benefit of of transparency. Members are invited to suggest ways that iNADO can further assist NADOs/RADOs and facilitate input to the Code review project.
Please take the opportunity to engage in the Code review project whether independently or with an iNADO facilitated process.
Process and Timeline
WADA has prepared tools to inform stakeholders about the Code update process. Familiarize yourself with the details, milestones, and phases outlined in the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code & International Standards Update Process.
The current Stakeholder Engagement Phase was launched at the end of September and ends on 22 December 2023. The respective drafting groups will review stakeholder feedback and work on the first drafts from 8 January to 19 April 2024.
A detailed explanation of the entire undertaking was published on 26 September, 2023. A webinar overview is equally available. Please note that timelines and expectations may vary for different components.
Education Standard
Comments on the Education Standard are due by November 15, 2023, with comments on the rest of the Code and other Standards due by December 22, 2023. Utilize WADA Connect to submit your comments. Leading up to April 2025, there will be several opportunities to submit comments.
International Standard on Code Compliance
The International Standard on Code Compliance (ISCC) is not a target in the 2027 Code Review Process as it has been recently reviewed and a new ISCC is to be implemented early in 2024. This new Standard has great relevance and importance to the iNADO membership and their respective operations.