UNESCO and ITA renew partnership to strengthen global anti-doping education and capacity

The renewed agreement was signed on 20 October 2025 at the 10ᵗʰ Session of the Conference of Parties (COP10) to the International Convention against Doping in Sport, held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on the occasion of the 20ᵗʰ anniversary of the Convention. The MoU was signed by Dr Valérie Fourneyron, Chair of the ITA Foundation Board, and Benjamin Cohen, ITA Director General, on behalf of the Agency.

Adopted in 2005, UNESCO’s International Convention against Doping in Sport remains the only international legal instrument committing governments to align their policies with the principles of the World Anti-Doping Code. It has served as the cornerstone of global cooperation to protect the values of sport and ensure a harmonised international response to doping.

The ITA and UNESCO first formalised their collaboration in 2019, establishing a framework for cooperation and mutual recognition of their respective roles: UNESCO as the custodian of the Convention and the ITA as a leading independent organisation with a unique mandate to deliver anti-doping programs globally for international sport. The renewal of the MoU for the period 2025–2031 builds upon this foundation, reaffirming both organisations’ commitment to work together in promoting education, knowledge-sharing and capacity-building as key pillars of clean sport. Under this renewed agreement, UNESCO and the ITA will continue to explore avenues for future collaboration to enhance anti-doping education and strengthen global implementation capacities in line with the objectives of the Convention.

Dr Valérie Fourneyron, Chair of the ITA Foundation Board, said: “This renewed partnership with UNESCO is a reaffirmation of our shared commitment to ensuring fairness and integrity in sport. Two decades after the adoption of the Convention, we are entering a new chapter of collaboration that paves the way to translate policy into practical, accessible tools and capacity building for countries and stakeholders.”

Benjamin Cohen, ITA Director General, added: “By joining forces with UNESCO, we are helping to bridge the gap between intergovernmental policy and practical implementation. Gaps at the national level directly affect the ITA’s ability to uphold integrity and fairness at international competitions. This is why joint initiatives with UNESCO are so important – they allow us to support countries with limited resources in strengthening their anti-doping systems, particularly in areas such as athlete education and the development of a skilled anti-doping workforce.”

“The renewal of this Memorandum of Understanding with the International Testing Agency reaffirms our shared commitment to advancing a fair and inclusive global sport integrity ecosystem. UNESCO’s intergovernmental mandate and global scope coupled with ITA’s technical expertise can help ensure that it is solidarity that defines the next chapter of global sport governance.” -Ms. Lidia Brito, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences a.i.

The renewed MoU enters into force immediately and will remain valid until 31 December 2031, fostering continued cooperation between UNESCO and the ITA in support of clean sport, education and the protection of athletes worldwide.