The National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) has signed a two-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Australian Anti-Doping Agency (ASADA) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to bolster India’s anti-doping programme.
A detailed project plan has been established to ensure India implements a more effective anti-doping programme that is fully compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code. WADA will oversee the partnership, including the timeline set for the project, and assist with the implementation of the work required.
"We look forward to sharing our expertise and experience with India as they strive to improve their anti-doping capacity,” ASADA Chief Executive Officer Ben McDevitt said in a statement released by WADA. "In the lead up to the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, this partnership will be an important component to strengthening the anti-doping capabilities of Commonwealth nations," he added.
The scope of the agreement includes the need for improvement of key aspects of NADA’s programme, including testing and results management structures, more timely appeals processes and a review of the agency’s structure to confirm that the current structures enable autonomous operational decision making.
“We are happy to have the ASADA on board to assist us with strengthening our anti-doping programme, as we look to further protect the rights of clean athletes,” said NADA Director General Navin Agarwal.
“We fully recognise some of the shortcomings our programme has had in the past, and that is why we will cooperate wholeheartedly with ASADA and WADA to ensure that we make the changes needed and in doing so give athletes full confidence in the Indian anti-doping system,” added Agarwal.
WADA Deputy Director General, Rob Koehler, welcomed the collaboration. “We are pleased at the introduction of this partnership, whereby ASADA will provide expertise and support in crucial areas for the Indian NADA. A country as large as India, and with such fervour for sport, demands a strong anti-doping program; and that is what this partnership aims to deliver,” said Koehler.
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