July 20, 2009 – The Athlete Outreach program is one of the main ways that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) seeks to interact with athletes around the world. It provides a platform to generate interest and excitement about the global fight against cheating in sport and educate the athletes about anti-doping. Through tools such as the Anti-Doping Quiz that has now been translated into 19 languages athletes all around can gain insight into the topical issues in anti-doping. The WADA Athlete Outreach model is a turn-key program with ready-made tools and templates, available at close to no cost to IFs, National Associations or other organizations.

As recognition for the pioneering role of FIS in the global anti-doping fight, WADA invited FIS to assist and experience the Athlete Outreach program at the XVI Mediterranean Games that were held in Pescara (ITA) from 26th June – 5th July 2009 and Sarah Fussek, who is handling much of FIS’s day to day anti-doping work, undertook this role. The goal of the inclusion of key WADA stakeholders there was to share experiences between the summer and winter sports, and gain new ideas for further programs especially focused on the younger generations. The Pescara outreach team consistent of four persons who met with hundreds of athletes to discuss their anti-doping rights and obligations and to offer athletes, coaches and team medical staff a platform to raise any practical questions or concerns. As a result, both sides were able to benefit from the exchanges.

FIS Secretary General Saraw Lewis underlined: “The WADA Athlete Outreach model really makes it simple to start and run a structured program of communication and education. We at FIS will be leveraging the Best Practice examples from WADA together with our own experiences and continue to develop our program in the coming season as part of our key events. With the obligations of the new WADA Code, we have seen that nothing can replace proactive information delivery.”