What is WADA and why does it have an image problem?
February 25, 2025
Why does the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) exist?
WADA was established in February 1999 at a World Anti-Doping Conference in Lausanne, Switzerland. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) initiative was backed by around 140 countries. It was triggered by a major doping scandal at the 1998 Tour de France involving the French cycling team Festina. The scandal began after large quantities of banned substances were seized – even though at that point, no Festina rider had tested positive.
At the conference in Lausanne, the participants agreed to establish an international anti-doping agency to standardize and coordinate the fight against doping. It was to be fully operational by the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. On November 10, 1999, WADA was officially established at an anti-doping conference in Washington.
What does WADA do?
WADA is responsible for ensuring that the World Anti-Doping Code is adhered to and, if necessary, updated in response to new developments. The code is the internationally applicable set of rules in the fight against doping for all sports. The first version was adopted in 2003 – and updated in 2007, 2009, 2015 and 2021.
Among other things, it sets out the standards for how doping tests should be carried out. The World Anti-Doping Code also states that top athletes must frequently report their whereabouts so that they can be tested anywhere and at any time. National anti-doping agencies are responsible for implementing the provisions of the code in their respective countries.
WADA updates the list of banned substances on a yearly basis, while accrediting the doping-control laboratories in which samples may be analyzed. There are currently 30 WADA-accredited testing laboratories.
How is WADA financed?
WADA is a foundation. Half of its budget – around $53 million (€50.6 million) in 2025 – is funded by the IOC. The other half is provided by the more than 190 countries that have signed on to the Anti-Doping Code. The contribution shares are staggered according to continent. The distribution formula was agreed in 2003 at a world conference against doping in Copenhagen.
Europe accounts for the largest share with 47.5%, followed by North, Central and South America with 29% and Asia with 20.5%. The countries from Oceania (2.5%) and Africa (0.5%) contribute the least.
In the 2025 WADA budget, the highest national contributions are made by the USA (around $3.8 million), Canada ($1.9 million), Japan ($1.5 million) and European countries Germany, France, Italy and the UK, plus Russia ($1.4 million each). The highest contributors in Africa are Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa (just under $6000 each).
Why is the WADA headquarters located in Montreal?
After it was founded in 1999, WADA was initially based in Lausanne, Switzerland, where the IOC is also based. In 2000, an economic development agency that promotes investment in the greater Montreal area launched a campaign to bring the WADA headquarters to the Canadian city. WADA moved there in 2002.
Lausanne became the WADA regional office for Europe. There are others in Cape Town, Tokyo and Montevideo.
How many people does WADA employ?
According to its own figures, WADA employed 187 people from 52 countries at its headquarters in Montreal and in its regional offices at the end of 2023. Former Polish Minister of Sport and Tourism Witold Banka has been at the helm of the agency since 2020. Yang Yang, the 2002 Chinese gold medal winning speed skater, is the vice president.
What kind of reputation does WADA have?
Ten years ago, when a scandal surrounding systematic doping in Russian sport broke, WADA was still regarded as an undisputed authority, but its image has been tarnished by the affair. Critics accuse WADA, under Banka and Yang, of increasingly failing to follow its own principles.
Before the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, a team of reporters from German public broadcaster ARD uncovered a scandal in Chinese swimming. It found that 23 Chinese athletes, including world and Olympic champions, had tested positive for a banned substance in 2021, but had not even been suspended. Travis Tygart, head of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), then accused WADA of a cover up – an allegation WADA responded to by suing the American official. Former US President Joe Biden's administration then suspended Washington's contribution to WADA's budget. WADA has since withdrawn its complaint against Tygart.
WADA has also faced criticism for accepting the explanations of the accused for alleged offences in the world of tennis. In the case of men's World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, WADA initially took the case to the International Court of Justice but later reached an agreement with the Italian that saw him facing a suspension of just three months. In the case of women's world No. 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland, WADA waived its right to appeal against the one-month doping ban imposed by the International Tennis Integrity Agency.
This article was originally published in German.