While uncertainty continues due to COVID-19, for planning purposes, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) kindly asks its stakeholders to ‘save the date’ for two important WADA events to be held next year:
- The 2021 Annual Symposium, which is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, 17 March and Thursday, 18 March 2021 at the SwissTech Convention Center in Lausanne, Switzerland.
This 16th edition, which will be themed ‘Partnering to Deliver Clean Sport for Athletes in a New Era’ will, once again, be a unique and practical event that offers anti-doping stakeholders the opportunity to interact and learn from one another. The Symposium is designed for anti-doping practitioners from International Federations, National and Regional Anti-Doping Organizations and Major Event Organizations; representatives from Athlete Commissions, Governments, WADA-accredited laboratories and Athlete Passport Management Units; as well as, other stakeholders such as service providers, researchers and the media – all that are integral to clean sport.
In keeping with the theme, we particularly encourage the participation of Anti-Doping Organizations’ athletes and athlete representatives. Given that the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee will both be holding major Athlete Forums in 2021 that will feature discussions on anti-doping, WADA has opted not to hold an additional full-day Athlete Session as part of the Symposium in 2021; however, athletes and athlete matters will be front and center in the two-day agenda.
More details regarding the Annual Symposium, including a draft agenda and logistical information, will be provided when registration opens during the fourth quarter of 2020.
- The Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) Symposium, which is scheduled to be held from Wednesday, 21 April to Friday, 23 April in Incheon, South Korea.
This fifth edition of WADA’s TUE Symposium will be hosted by the Korea Anti-Doping Agency (KADA); and, will convene physicians and representatives of National Anti-Doping Organizations, International Federations, Major Event Organizations and other international sports organizations from around the globe to discuss medical conditions and the TUE process.
The primary objective of the Symposium is to harmonize the approach to TUEs, which ensure that athletes with legitimate medical conditions may participate in sport despite their need for a prohibited substance or method. The Symposium will discuss the revised 2021 International Standard for TUEs that will enter into effect on 1 January 2021; and, include interactive discussions on medical cases; medico-legal issues; retroactive TUEs; and, the challenges regarding global harmonization of practices, with the goal of ensuring that fairness is maintained and athletes are afforded similar opportunities, regardless of their sport, geographical location or specific medical issues.
WADA is committed to ensuring the health and safety of the stakeholder community and the Agency’s staff. Accordingly, the Agency will continue to monitor the evolution of the pandemic; and, base its decisions regarding whether to hold these large-scale gatherings in person or through virtual means on directives issued by public health authorities.
The Agency hopes to have the pleasure of welcoming you in Lausanne and Incheon in 2021.