Last March 12-13, Lausanne, Switzerland proudly hosted the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) 2024 Annual Symposium, coinciding with WADA’s 25th anniversary. This prestigious event, held at the SwissTech Convention Center, attracted over 1,000 participants from national anti-doping organizations, international federations, and other stakeholders in the global fight against doping in sports. The symposium was notable for its size, scope, and hybrid format – allowing for in-person and virtual participation, thus maximizing its reach and inclusiveness.
One Mission – One Team
This year’s symposium had the theme “One Mission – One Team.” The program highlighted the collaborative mission for a doping-free sport, showcasing the advancements and contributions of various stakeholders towards raising the standards for athletes worldwide. The attendees ranged from practitioners from international federations, national and regional anti-doping organizations, major event organizations, athletes, governments, WADA-accredited laboratories, athlete passport management units, service providers, and researchers. They all gathered to advance the global anti-doping agenda.
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A notable aspect of the symposium was the participation of four alumni from the Dream Together Master (DTM) program, including representatives from the National Anti-Doping Organizations of Poland and Singapore and Ph.D. students from Mexico and the Philippines. Their presence underscored the DTM’s impact in the anti-doping field and highlighted the importance of educational pathways in preparing the next generation of sports managers.
Participant Feedback
“I am a new Ph.D. candidate from the DAiSI program in Sports Ethics and Integrity. My topic is “Crisis Communication after ethical misconduct in social media.” While anti-doping is not my main title, it falls under ethical misconduct, so conversations around the topic are always helpful. The networking at the event was beneficial because I met people involved with marketing and communication from WADA who could help in my research. Also, the symposium gave me a clearer picture of how I can frame anti-doping in the scope of my research. It was also very nice to reconnect with anti-doping peeps I hadn’t seen in a while since I have not worked in the field for some time, so that’s always nice. I can’t leave out seeing and meeting the SNU DTM family. Also, I was surprised to learn from KADA staff that 10% of DTM alumni are currently working in anti-doping! That’s quite impressive. Go DTM!” – Maria Fernanda Delgado from Mexico, 7th batch SNU DTM.
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Merey Tan notes that: “Given the global impact of WADA’s work, it is important that they gain the mindshare of the people they want to reach out to. I attend about 5 to 7 such anti-doping conferences each year. I would say that the WADA symposium is attended by the most people [more than 1,100 this year] as they made the online option available. Over two days of generative conversations and sharings by thought leaders in the field, the Clean Sports community gathered in Lausanne is galvanized to take action to protect the integrity of sport and the rights of athletes to Clean Sport. My role at the WADA Symposium: Representing Singapore as the General Manager, Anti-Doping Singapore” – Merey Tan from Singapore, 5th batch SNU DTM.
She further adds: “Over the past two days, we heard from the thought leaders who shared the strategic priorities. We learned the importance of strengthening areas like anti-doping education, scientific and social science research, and intelligence and investigations. An eye-opener was a moot court session that simulated a court hearing of an anti-doping case involving cross-examination and closing arguments.”
Olha Zavhorodnya, a Ukrainian working for the Polish Anti-Doping Agency (POLADA) and an alumna of the 6th batch of the SNU DTM program, marked her presence at the symposium with significant contributions. She was invited by WADA as a participant in the Intelligence and Investigation Capability and Capacity Building project. She also participated as a speaker in a session titled “Testing for Beginners.” This role allowed her to impart the knowledge and insights she has accumulated, including her experiences from the WADA Global Learning Development Framework (GLDF) program for testing.
Olha’s participation underscores the importance of expert-led discussions in strengthening the capabilities of individuals new to anti-doping. It showcases the pivotal role that international collaboration plays in fortifying global anti-doping efforts.
Reflecting on her participation, Olha shared her enthusiasm and the value she finds in such gatherings: “Attending the WADA Symposium presents an invaluable opportunity for engagement with people involved in the anti-doping community. Participation in a workshop designed to onboard newcomers to the WADA GLDF program is instrumental in enhancing understanding and ensuring the effective operation of the testing departments across anti-doping organizations. This symposium is crucial in facilitating networking and collaboration among anti-doping organizations, thereby upholding the principles of fair play for athletes globally.”
“WADA’s technological and AI initiatives are pushing boundaries in this digital age. Their education programs are equally vital, fostering global awareness and collaboration to ensure an equitable field in the world of sport.” — Salvador Jr Reyes from the Philippines, SNU DTM 5th Batch and joint Ph.D. researcher at Switzerland’s University of Lausanne, and Belgium’s KU Leuven.
Looking Forward
The anticipation grows for the WADA Anti-Doping Conference in Busan in 2025. The success of this year’s symposium in Lausanne sets a high standard. There is a collective hope that more SNU DTM program students and alumni will be able to attend future events to further enrich the dialogue and collaboration in the ongoing fight against doping in sports.
Edited by Aldo Tong
