14 December 2020

WADA signs partnership agreement with Polish Anti-Doping Agency to train over 100 anti-doping practitioners in Europe

• Pilot ‘Global to Local’ education project will help enhance the capabilities of the anti-doping workforce for the benefit of Clean Sport worldwide

Today, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) signed a partnership agreement with the Polish Anti-Doping Agency (POLADA) to pilot a ‘Global to Local’ education project in Europe (G2L Europe), which is focused on training of anti-doping practitioners. POLADA will provide support to WADA, including financial, as the Agency pilots training and development programs for over 100 anti-doping practitioners in Europe for the benefit of Clean Sport worldwide.

Under WADA’s 2020-2024 Strategic Plan, the Agency committed ‘to developing training programs and qualifications standards for anti-doping professionals to improve professionalism and enhance the capabilities of the anti-doping workforce’. Accordingly, WADA’s Education Department has initiated development of:

1. A Global Learning and Development Framework, through which specific, standardized training for a range of anti-doping roles will be developed and made available for Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) and other stakeholders worldwide within the anti-doping ecosystem; and
2. A G2L education and training network, which is a subset of the Global Learning and Development Framework project. G2L will see WADA establish an education network connecting the global and regional levels more effectively to support the coordinated implementation of training programs in regions of the world.

WADA’s pilot G2L Europe project in partnership with POLADA will be focused on training and development programs for anti-doping practitioners initially for the following five anti-doping roles:

1. Education Officers, given the new International Standard for Education coming into effect on 1 January 2021;
2. Results Management Officers, given the new International Standard for Results Management coming into effect on 1 January 2021;
3. Intelligence and Investigations (I&I) Officers, given the need to enhance I&I capability within the anti-doping system;
4. Those responsible for data privacy matters, given the ever-increasing complexity in this area and the requirements to meet governmental regulations; and
5. Those responsible for media relations and communications, which ADOs expressed was an area requiring more support

The G2L Europe project will enable WADA to test its Global Learning and Development Framework in Europe; after which, the Agency will refine, improve and expand upon its framework before implementing other Global to Local projects in other regions around the world, starting in 2022. During today’s signing ceremony in Warsaw, WADA President Witold Bańka said:

“WADA is grateful for POLADA’s partnership for this pilot ‘Global to Local’ educational project in Europe, which will directly contribute to the training of over 100 anti-doping practitioners in Europe for the benefit of Clean Sport worldwide. Currently, there is no standardized and accessible role-specific training for anti-doping practitioners. This pilot project will go a long way in filling that void in Europe; and, help the Agency refine its program so that it can be provided for a greater variety of roles around the world.”

POLADA Director Michał Rynkowski said: “POLADA is very proud to partner with WADA for this important pilot educational project. Since POLADA was formed in 2017, it has focused on the education of children, young people and professional athletes. Through the “Gramy Fair” (We Play Fair) project, we carried out education projects locally, in Poland. The experience that we have gained in this area has shown us just how valuable education is and the benefits it can bring when we invest in people.”

“Supporting WADA’s efforts to extend the benefits of education by investing in the training and development of anti-doping practitioners is equally valuable. Accordingly, we have already collaborated with WADA to train practitioners in the area of Results Management in Poland.  This ‘Global to Local’ educational project extends upon an existing, fruitful, partnership to cover more anti-doping practitioner roles within Europe. We did not hesitate to partner with WADA; as, we know that, by working together, we will contribute to protecting athletes in the whole of Europe and beyond.”

The six phases of the G2L Europe project are:

1. Establishment of the G2L education network in Europe;
2. Identification of training needs;
3. Development of a training program;
4. Organization for program delivery;
5. Implementation of the five programs outlined above, between November 2021 and March 2022; and
6. Evaluation and project debrief.

WADA has already established five informal, virtual, Technical Working Groups – comprised of stakeholders and WADA staff – to support the Global Learning and Development Framework in developing standardized training for the five roles outlined above.

• This media release was published by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on 14 December 2020. Click here for the original.

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