WADA Welcomes Adoption of International Convention against Doping in Sport by UNESCO

Montreal, October 19, 2005 – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) welcomed with great satisfaction the unanimous adoption of the first International Convention against Doping in Sport by the General Conference of UNESCO, at its plenary session today in Paris.

“The adoption of the Convention by UNESCO is a strong signal of the commitment of the governments of the world to the fight against doping in sport,” said David Howman, WADA’s Director General. “The drafting of this Convention in just two years was a world record for international treaties. We warmly commend and thank UNESCO for facilitating the process, and we look forward to the treaty coming into force and the ratification by each government before the opening day of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin.”

Until now, many governments could not be legally bound by a non-governmental document such as the World Anti-Doping Code, the document harmonizing regulations regarding anti-doping in all sports and all countries of the world. Governments have accordingly, pursuant to the Code and with the assistance of WADA, drafted this International Convention under the auspices of UNESCO, the United Nations body responsible for education, science and culture.

The International Convention against Doping in Sport is now available for UNESCO member states to ratify according to their respective constitutional jurisdictions. As of today, 181 countries have signed the Copenhagen Declaration on Anti-Doping in Sport, the political document through which governments show their intention to implement the World Anti-Doping Code through ratification of the UNESCO Convention.

More than 570 sports organizations have already adopted the Code.
For more information about the Convention, go to the UNESCO website.

UNESCO Press Release:
International Convention Against Doping in Sport
The International Convention Against Doping in Sport will be considered for adoption by the 33rd session of the UNESCO General Conference in October 2005.

The purpose of the Convention is to harmonise anti-doping efforts worldwide and to provide a legal framework within which all governments can take action to remove doping from sport. Under the Convention governments will have a legal commitment to implement the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code) and take specific action to:
· Restrict the availability of prohibited substances or methods to athletes (except for legitimate medical purposes) including measures against trafficking
· Facilitate doping controls and support national testing programmes
· Withhold financial support from athletes and athlete support personnel who commit an anti-doping rule violation, or sporting organisations that are not in compliance with the Code
· Encourage producers and distributors of nutritional supplements to establish ‘best practice’ in the labelling, marketing and distribution of products which might contain prohibited substances
· Support the provision of anti-doping education to athletes and the wider sporting community.

The preparation of the Convention by UNESCO follows a number of key international developments. The first concrete steps were taken in 1989 with the Council of Europe Convention Against Doping. International efforts gained considerable momentum in 1999 with the establishment of the World Anti-Doping Agency and the development of a unified World Anti-Doping Code in 2003. The final task has been the preparation of an international anti-doping convention. It was natural for UNESCO, which stands on principles of equality and justice, to take on this task, particularly with its strong interest in education and the fundamental values underpinning physical education and sport.

Final draft of the International Convention Against Doping in Sport
The Convention has been developed after extensive drafting and consultation meetings involving representatives from over 95 countries. It is the product of three meetings of an experts group and three sessions of an intergovernmental meeting.
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WADA Release in French:
L’AMA salue l’adoption de la Convention internationale contre le dopage dans le sport par l’UNESCO

Montréal, 19 octobre 2005 – L’Agence mondiale antidopage (AMA) a accueilli avec grande satisfaction l’adoption unanime de la première Convention internationale contre le dopage par la Conférence générale de l’UNESCO, lors de sa session plénière aujourd’hui à Paris.

« L’adoption de la Convention par l’UNESCO est un signal fort montrant l’engagement des gouvernements dans la lutte contre le dopage dans le sport », a commenté David Howman, le directeur général de l’AMA. « La préparation de cette Convention en tout juste deux ans a été un record du monde pour un traité international. Nous remercions et félicitons chaleureusement l’UNESCO d’avoir facilité le processus. Nous nous réjouissons que le traité entre en vigueur et que chaque gouvernement le ratifie avant le début des Jeux olympiques d’hiver de 2006 à Turin. »

Jusqu’ici, de nombreux gouvernements ne pouvaient pas être liés juridiquement par un document non gouvernemental tel que le Code mondial antidopage, le document harmonisant les règles liées au dopage dans tous les sports et dans les pays. Les gouvernements ont donc préparé, conformément au Code et avec l’assistance de l’AMA, cette Convention internationale sous l’égide de l’UNESCO, l’organisation des Nations Unies pour l’éducation, la science et la culture.

La Convention internationale contre le dopage dans le sport est désormais ouverte à la ratification des États membres de l’UNESCO en conformité avec leur cadre constitutionnel. À cette date, 181 pays ont signé la Déclaration de Copenhague contre le dopage dans le sport, le document politique signalant leur intention de mettre en place le Code mondial antidopage en ratifiant la Convention de l’UNESCO.

Plus de 570 organisations sportives ont déjà adopté le Code.

Pour davantage d’informations sur la Convention, veuillez visiter le site de l’UNESCO.