The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has announced its ambitious plans to expand its anti-doping initiatives to Oceania and Asia following the success of its Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) program in Europe. The program, which kicked off in 2022, has led to significant achievements, including the seizure of over 25 tonnes of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and the shutdown of 25 illegal laboratories. Gunter Younger, WADA's I&I Director, revealed this information during recent discussions about the future of the organization’s efforts against doping.
After launching the I&I program, which initially involved cooperation with law enforcement across 48 participating European nations, WADA witnessed impressive results. A total of more than 100 active anti-doping operations were reported even after the conclusion of the program. According to Younger, "They prevented more than 500 million doses of PEDs from reaching the global market, which is significant achievement." This indicated not only the successful operations undertaken but affirmed the necessity of continuing similar efforts beyond Europe.
Recognizing the need for expansion, WADA is now focussing on Oceania and Asia. This week, key I&I staff met with local anti-doping and law enforcement officials on Australia’s Gold Coast, marking the first of six workshops planned for the region this year. Sponsored by Sport Integrity Australia, this initial workshop aims to promote collaboration between national anti-doping agencies and law enforcement to combat the illicit production and distribution of PEDs.
Besides Australia, the workshops will include participation from New Zealand and various Pacific nations, each seeking to build their capacity to fight against doping. Following this regional initiative, subsequent workshops will occur across Asia, including countries such as Saudi Arabia, India, and Thailand, which aim to address the broader reach of doping issues faced by those countries. China, noted as a major producer of materials used for PEDs, will also play an important role. Younger stressed the significance of engaging openly with China, indicating, "Sometimes powder used for PEDs or precursors are allowed, but trafficking is not. So if we know the legal framework, we can provide this intelligence to China."
China's involvement may prove particularly enlightening after scrutiny arose surrounding its swimming team, wherein 23 athletes tested positive for the same banned substance leading up to the Tokyo Olympics. While Chinese officials attributed these results to contamination from hotel kitchens, WADA’s investigations drew them to reconsider their stance, as international scrutiny placed weight on WADA’s credibility.
Despite these challenges, WADA expressed optimism about improving cooperation and transparency within the global anti-doping framework. Notably, the agency's relationship with the United States has been complicated. Following the aforementioned swimming scandal, the U.S. government withheld over $3.6 million of funding earmarked for WADA, denoting about 6% of the organization’s annual budget. Conflicts partly arose from how WADA handled the allegations surrounding Chinese swimmers, leading to inquiries by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Younger, on the topic of U.S. relations, stated, "I know it’s political. I stay out of political discussions. If I have a case tomorrow with the U.S., I will call them and say, ‘Let’s work together.’” His sentiments reflect the deep commitment to international cooperation as WADA seeks to restore trust and reinforce fight against doping across borders.
Looking to the future, Younger remained hopeful about several developments. "We are hoping by next year, 2027, it will be resolved, so we can go back to where we should be—namely fighting against doping and not each other." This statement encapsulates the global aspirations of WADA as they pursue new paths to collective integrity within sports.
With key workshops and international partnerships on the horizon, WADA aims to secure the integrity of sports within Oceania and Asia—regions increasingly pivotal to the anti-doping narrative worldwide. The movement exemplifies WADA’s commitment to collaboration, intelligence sharing, and innovative strategies directed at eradicatory operations against doping.