WADA announces Athlete Engagement program for the World Athletics Championships Oregon22

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is pleased to announce its Athlete Engagement Program for the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 (WCH Oregon22) in Eugene, U.S.A. This major biennial event, which commences today and runs through 24 July 2022, will involve nearly 1,900 athletes from 188 countries.

Under the theme ‘Working together for Clean and Fair Sport’, WADA’s Athlete Engagement Program will be carried out in partnership with the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and World Athletics.

Alongside its partners, WADA will be on-site at the Global Scholars Hall in the Athlete Village between 15-18 July, while its partners will carry on through 24 July.  Together, they will raise awareness about clean and fair sport while making connections with athletes competing at WCH Oregon22.

WADA’s Athlete Engagement team will be led by the following athlete leaders who are current and former members of its Athlete Committee (AC).  Together with the AIU and USADA, the team will interact with participants; highlight how athletes can contribute to WADA’s global mission for doping-free sport; and, invite them to engage digitally with WADA’s athlete-focused campaign by sharing ‘Who inspires them to Play True?’.

• Ben Sandford (New Zealand), Chair of WADA’s AC and Olympian skeleton athlete;
• Dr. Jeff Porter (USA), Member of WADA’s AC and track and field Olympian; and
• Tegla Loroupe (Kenya), past WADA AC Member and Olympian long-distance runner.

WADA’s athlete leaders will also have the opportunity to meet with members of the World Athletics Athletes’ Commission; and, on 17 July at 15:00 PTD, Ben Sandford will join an Open Session with Athletes featuring:

• David Howman (New Zealand), Chairman of AIU;
• Brett Clothier (Australia), Head of AIU; and
• Valerie Adams (New Zealand), Vice Chair of the World Athletics Athletes’ Commission.

WADA President Witold Bańka said: “WADA is looking forward to working collaboratively with the Athletics Integrity Unit, the United States Anti-Doping Agency and World Athletics at WCH Oregon22. We are grateful to have been invited by World Athletics to be part of what promises to be a thrilling athletics event featuring many of the world’s greatest athletes. Having this opportunity to connect face-to-face with athletes is essential to WADA as we are committed to ensuring that athletes are increasingly at the center of our mission. We are particularly proud to say that our Athlete Engagement Program will be led by three of our athlete leaders from three continents.  They are helping us in building sustainable relationships with athletes and our anti-doping partners from around the world at WCH Oregon22 while promoting clean sport values.”

WADA Athlete Committee member Dr. Jeff Porter said: “I am thrilled to represent WADA at WCH Oregon22. Our presence at this event allows us to interact with our athlete peers, answer their questions and listen to their concerns in real-time. I am excited to share with athletes that WADA is seeking to enhance the athlete voice by expanding the current Athlete Committee through creation of a new and larger Athlete Council, which includes having a voice at all decision-making levels of WADA. I hope that our presence can provide the Agency with valuable feedback that can then be used to effectively address athletes’ needs.”

The original press release can be found here : https://www.wada-ama.org/en/news/wada-announces-athlete-engagement-program-world-athletics-championships-oregon22