WADA PUBLISHES INDEPENDENT OBSERVER TEAM REPORT FROM 2019 PAN AMERICAN GAMES

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published its Independent Observer (IO) Team’s Report regarding the anti-doping program at the 2019 Pan American (Pan Am) Games held in Lima, Peru, from 26 July to 11 August 2019.

As it has done for many major events since 2000, WADA sent a team to monitor the anti-doping program that was run by Pan Am Sports and the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee with the aim of reinforcing confidence in athletes and the public as to the quality, effectiveness and reliability of the Games’ anti-doping program.

In addition to collaborating with Pan Am Sports and the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee, and providing general support prior to the Games, the team also provided real-time feedback during the Games designed to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of the program in compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards.

Led by Ilaria Baudo, WADA Senior Manager, Standards and Harmonization, the four-person team was composed of experts in anti-doping from across the Americas who observed and provided feedback on all aspects of doping control. This included the implementation of general anti-doping policies and procedures; test distribution planning; implementation of the out-of-competition and in-competition testing programs; athlete selection and notification for testing; Therapeutic Use Exemptions procedures; sample collection procedures; the transport of samples and their chain of custody; and, the results management process – including hearings that were held during the IO Team’s presence.

Ms. Baudo said: "The WADA Independent Observer team would like to commend Pan Am Sports and the Lima 2019 Organizing Committee for the anti-doping program put in place during the 2019 Pan American Games. The organizers made particular efforts to increase risk-based and out-of-competition testing in the lead-up to the Pan Am Games, as well as implement recommendations made by the IO Team throughout the course of the Games. These efforts ensured both the effectiveness and integrity of the anti-doping program being implemented. We would particularly like to thank Dr. Bernardo Chernilo, President of the Medical Commission of Pan Am Sports, and its members, and Dr. Victor Carpio, Chief Executive Officer of the Comisión Nacional Antidopaje de Perú (CONAD), and his team, who were key to the success of the program."

As is the case following all IO Team missions, the report includes a number of recommendations for Pan Am Sports and WADA itself – all designed to enhance anti-doping activities at future Games.

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