KATOWICE DECLARATION

Adopted by the Fifth World Conference on Doping in Sport Katowice, Poland, 7 November 2019

Condemning the practice of doping in sport, in violation of the principles and rules of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) and other international instruments, and its detrimental impact on the integrity and spirit of sport, the health and well-being of athletes, the educational value of sport for youth, and the fairness of sports competitions;

Acknowledging that 20 years after the creation of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), substantial progress has been achieved in the fight against doping in sport, namely widespread adoption of the rules, governance reforms, enhanced compliance, increased re-analysis of samples, development of intelligence and investigative capacity, increased awareness and education, and advances in science and medicine;

Convinced that the 2021 version of the Code and International Standards will continue to drive further progress;

Aware of the increasingly sophisticated strategies and technologies used to illegitimately enhance sport performance;

Recognizing the negative impact of doping scandals and the subsequent actions taken by WADA and its stakeholders to strengthen the global anti-doping program;

Highlighting that the issue of doping in sport is complex and can only be confronted by the uncompromising commitment of all stakeholders toward the implementation of a multipronged strategy;

Stressing that enhanced cooperation, cohesion, and collaboration amongst anti-doping stakeholders is fundamental to the fight against doping in sport;

Emphasizing that the Olympic and Sports Movement, Governments, Anti-Doping Organizations, and intergovernmental organizations, together with WADA, have complementary roles and responsibilities to fight doping in sport and protect clean athletes, and that all stakeholders need to intensify their joint efforts;

Welcoming the increased funding provided to WADA by the Sports Movement and by Governments;

Calling upon all organizations that benefit from clean sport, including private sector organizations, professional leagues, and university sport to support and contribute to the fight against doping in sport;

Encouraged by the growing engagement of athletes in the fight against doping in sport; and

Affirming that to foster a clean sport environment, all individuals, bodies, and organizations involved in sport should have appropriate anti-doping education to preserve the spirit of sport, promote the values of sport and ultimately protect all athletes, so that an athlete’s first experience is through education rather than doping control.

The World Conference:

As to the Review and Amendment of the World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards

1. Reaffirms that the improvement in, strict implementation of, and monitoring of compliance with the Code and International Standards is essential for an efficient fight against doping in sport; and
2. Welcomes the decisions of WADA’s Foundation Board and Executive Committee to approve, respectively, the revisions to the Code and International Standards, which, following an extensive and transparent global consultation process, will come into force on 1 January 2021.

As to the World Anti-Doping Agency

3. Recognizes and fully supports the essential role played by WADA as the world regulator in antidoping in sport, and enjoins all stakeholders to reiterate and strengthen their support;
4. Encourages WADA to: continue leading the fight against doping in sport; use all means available to provide support and guidance to enhance anti-doping capacity amongst all Signatories; enforce compliance with the Code and International Standards; and ensure appropriate consequences for non-compliance; and
5. Commends the Olympic Movement and Governments for the reiterated commitment to provide equal funding of WADA’s approved annual core budget and stresses the need to ensure WADA has the appropriate level of resources to fulfill its mission.

As to the Olympic and Sports Movement

6. Requires all stakeholders of the Olympic and Sports Movement, in particular, the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, International Sports Federations, National Olympic Committees, National Paralympic Committees, and other Major Event Organizers to implement and be fully compliant with the Code and International Standards;
7. Urges all stakeholders of the Olympic and Sports Movement to strengthen cooperation amongst each other as well as with Governments, Anti-Doping Organizations and delegated third parties such as the International Testing Agency with a view to enhancing anti-doping capacity across all sports disciplines and regions of the world; and
8. Encourages all stakeholders of the Olympic and Sports Movement to use all means available to reiterate the importance of protecting clean athletes and to promote the values of clean sport.

As to the National and Regional Anti-Doping Organizations

9. Requires National and Regional Anti-Doping Organizations to implement and be fully compliant with the Code and International Standards; and Katowice Declaration
10. Urges National and Regional Anti-Doping Organizations to strengthen cooperation with their counterparts around the world, in particular in regions where anti-doping activities and programs remain underdeveloped.

As to Governments

11. Requests that Governments take the necessary actions to implement and comply with the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport;
12. Urges Governments to adopt appropriate measures to deter doping in sport, protect whistle-blowers, and allow for the sharing of information between law enforcement agencies or other relevant authorities and Anti-Doping Organizations; and
13. Urges Governments to provide the appropriate financial support to their National or Regional Anti-Doping Organizations to ensure compliance with the Code and International Standards.

As to Athletes and Athlete Support Personnel

14. Encourages athletes, athlete support personnel, other individuals, bodies, and organizations to: continue to take an active role in the development of anti-doping policies and programs; respect anti-doping rules; publicly  and actively promote the values of clean sport; and disclose any knowledge they have of doping practices; and
15. Recognizes the utmost importance, for the fight against doping in sport, of respecting athletes’ rights and of taking into account the expression of their views and contributions; and welcomes the Athletes’ Anti-Doping Rights Act.

The KatowiceWorld Conference on Doping in Sport calls upon all stakeholders in the fight against doping in sport, including the Sports Movement, Governments, Anti-Doping Organizations, and athletes, to reinforce their efforts to strengthen their cooperation in every way possible; to present a unified front with a view to eradicate doping in sport; to increase resources dedicated to protecting clean sport; and to bring all perpetrators to account, without limitation.