November 14, 2007 (Madrid, Spain) – The Third World Conference on Doping in Sport, officially opening tomorrow in Madrid, Spain, will mark a major milestone in the strengthening of global efforts to combat doping in sport through its consideration of the revised World Anti-Doping Code (Code).

“Doping is without doubt the greatest threat ethical sport has ever known and has become so pervasive that it places public health at grave risk,” said World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) President Richard W. Pound. “It is incumbent upon the Sport Movement and Governments of the world to continue to bolster efforts to battle the scourge of doping, which is what they will do during this Third World Conference on Doping in Sport, by approving refinements to the World Anti-Doping Code and by discussing emerging trends and strategies for continued progress.”

At the World Conference, organized by WADA with the support of the Spanish High Council for Sport, more than 1,500 representatives of public authorities, the Sport Movement, the anti-doping community, athletes, observers, and the media will convene to review the major advances that have been made in the fight against doping since WADA’s inception in late 1999, and what strategies will be needed in the future.

As such, the chief topic of discussion will be the Revised World Anti-Doping Code, the core document adopted in 2003 by the Sport Movement and Governments of the world as the framework for the global harmonized fight against doping in sport. The purpose of the revision is to leverage the experience gained to date and to strengthen anti-doping programs worldwide.

The World Conference will be held over a period of two and a half days, from November 15 – 17. Sessions on Day 1 (November 15) will provide a forum for the review of progress in specific areas of the fight against doping, such as science, education, finance and the athletes’ role, as well as the future landscape of anti-doping. Day 2 (November 16) will be dedicated to the Revised World Anti-Doping Code and interventions made by delegates from the Governments and the Sports Movement. On the morning of Day 3 (November 17), Conference Conclusions and Resolutions will be considered for adoption.

“We expect the milestones reached at this Third World Conference to be as significant as those reached during the first two conferences in their advances made to protect the athletes’ health and their right to clean competition, as well as youth worldwide who admire athletic heroism and aspire to excel in sport,” continued Pound. “The forward momentum created at the First World Conference of 1999, which led to the establishment of WADA as the international independent body to coordinate and monitor the global fight against doping, and continued by the Second World Conference of 2003, which saw the adoption of the Code by Sport and Governments as the basis for the global harmonized fight against doping in sport, will most surely be furthered in the strengthening of the Code this week.”

Concurrently, WADA’s decision-making bodies-Executive Committee and Foundation Board-will hold their annual November meetings.

The WADA Executive Committee will meet on November 14 and 16, to consider several items for action, including:

– Revised World Anti-Doping Code: The Executive Committee will discuss the draft revised Code (version 3.0) that was published on October 15, in advance of the November 17 Foundation Board meeting at which time the revised Code will be considered for adoption.
– Revised International Standards: The Committee will consider the revisions to the International Standards for Testing and for Laboratories to identify next steps.
– Code Compliance Reporting: The Executive Committee will discuss strategies for the monitoring of stakeholder compliance with the Code.
– Social Science Research: Recommendations of the WADA Education Committee for the allocation of grants under the 2008 Social Science Research program will be considered by the Committee.

The WADA Foundation Board will meet twice on November 17, at 10h00 and at 14h00.

At the 10h00 meeting, the WADA Foundation Board will, upon recommendation from the WADA Executive Committee, consider for approval the Revised World Anti-Doping Code.

At the 14h00 meeting, the WADA Foundation Board will make several important decisions relating to:

– New Leadership: The Board is scheduled to consider for election the candidates presented by the Governments for WADA’s next Chair, and by the Sports Movement for WADA’s next Vice Chair, whose three-year terms begin on January 1, 2008.
– New Membership: As is consistent with the agenda for the Foundation Board’s annual November meeting, the Board will appoint the 2008 Executive Committee, and approve the 2008 Foundation Board and Standing Committee memberships.
– Budget: The Foundation Board also will consider for approval the 2008 Budget, as recommended by the Executive Committee.