Opinion: Collaboration is the key to success in anti-doping   

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By Witold Bańka, president, World Anti-Doping Agency

Witold Bańka This week, the government of the Cayman Islands will host the fourth World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Caribbean Ministerial Forum in George Town, as we continue our global push towards doping-free sport. We are deeply grateful to the Cayman government for the leadership it is showing in hosting this important regional forum.

Featuring representatives from 11 countries, including nine sports ministers and two permanent secretaries, and the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organization, the forum is part of a series of such events that WADA has been holding to gather and exchange views with governments around the world on possible ways and means to preserve clean sport.

Above all, this week is an opportunity for greater dialogue among like-minded public authorities in this region. In addition, looking further afield, I encourage all governments represented to actively participate and share their views and experiences with their colleagues from the Sport Council of the Americas (known as CADE), which includes North, Central and South America, including the Caribbean. The next CADE meeting will be held in Kingston, Jamaica, in April 2025 so a good turnout from Caribbean governments will be essential.

Since its creation in 1999, WADA has been the bedrock of the international effort to keep sport clean and fair. Over the past quarter-century, we have made monumental strides, but it is important to acknowledge that we have not achieved this on our own. WADA’s accomplishments are a testament to the power of international collaboration. Indeed, I would say our greatest achievement of all is the strength of international cooperation that WADA has fostered among governments, national and regional anti-doping organisations, international federations, athletes and other stakeholders.

We are, however, keenly aware that our mission is far from complete. We face increasingly sophisticated doping methods, and we must be ready to meet these challenges head on, with ground-breaking science, relentless vigilance and innovation. One thing is clear for our community: The future of anti-doping relies on our ability to collaborate effectively and stay united. We must not allow any individual or group to sow division and weaken the system that has been built up and fine-tuned together over the past 25 years.

The way to prevent this is to continue strengthening our partnerships. This week’s forum in George Town is a perfect example of how bringing together representatives of governments from all across the Caribbean can amplify the impact of our collective efforts. The fight against doping in sport means that we must be vigilant in our efforts to maintain an interconnected system of education, deterrence, detection, enforcement and the rule of law.

In an increasingly polarised and divided world, WADA remains politically neutral. Anti-doping is not about politics; it is about ensuring that athletes compete on a level playing field, free from performance-enhancing drugs. WADA must remain above the fray of geopolitical debates and disputes.

As we look toward the next 25 years and beyond, WADA will continue to embrace collaboration and push the boundaries of what is possible in the defence of clean sport. Together, we will create a future where athletes can compete without the shadow of doping, and where sport remains a celebration of human potential, integrity and excellence.

Witold Bańka is an ex-international 400-metre runner and former sports minister in his native Poland. He has been president of the World Anti-Doping Agency since 2020.

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