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2 December 2025
Following a thorough vetting and ratification process led by an independent Nominations Panel appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the ITA Foundation Board appointed Mr Antenen (SUI), who will take up his responsibilities as Chair of the Board on 1 January 2026. Active in sport integrity since 1998, he has served for more than 25 years as an independent auditor and disciplinary expert for sports organisations, advising on compliance, security, regulatory oversight and risk management. His long-standing work in sport is complemented by a distinguished public-service career in Switzerland, where he notably served as Head of the investigating magistrates of the Canton of Vaud and later as Commander of the Vaud Cantonal Police. Widely recognised for his independence, transparency and principled leadership, he brings substantial experience in institutional integrity – qualities that will support the ITA as it continues to strengthen its role as the leading international independent organisation active in the delivery of clean sport programs for international sport.
The Board and the ITA Director General expressed their deep gratitude to Dr Valérie Fourneyron for her exceptional leadership over the past eight years. A sports physician, former French Minister of Sports and former Member of the French Parliament, Dr Fourneyron has played a central role in guiding the ITA through its establishment and shaping its development into a trusted, stable and fully independent organisation. Under her stewardship, the ITA has expanded its portfolio of delegated programs, strengthened its capacities and deepened its cooperation with key partners within the Olympic Movement and the wider clean-sport community. Her tenure has been marked by a firm commitment to athlete protection, transparency and international cooperation.
During the meeting, also attended by IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who came to personally thank Dr Fourneyron and the Board for their exceptional support to clean sport, the ITA Foundation Board appointed two new members. Mr Ingmar De Vos, President of the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) and of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), was appointed as the representative of the international sport federations, succeeding Mr Francesco Ricci-Bitti, who reaches his term limit after 8 years on the Board of ITA. Mr Ricci-Bitti has been a key figure in support of independent and expert anti-doping operations outside the direct remit of international federations. As a long-serving leader in international sport, Mr de Vos brings extensive experience in modern governance and regulatory frameworks as well as a deep knowledge of the sport and Olympic environment.
Prof Dr Mao Lijuan, President of the Shanghai University of Sport, joins the Board as an independent member, succeeding Prof Dr Peijie Chen. A respected academic in sports science and public health, she contributes strong expertise in athlete welfare and evidence-based sports policy. The Board and ITA Director General expressed their sincere appreciation to the departing members for their significant contributions to the ITA’s development.
With the new appointments in place, the Board confirmed its renewed composition, which reflects both the international nature of the organisation and the principle of majority-independent oversight that underpins the ITA’s credibility.
As of 1 January 2026, the ITA Foundation Board will be composed as follows:
In line with the ITA Statutes, the Board’s mandate focuses on strategic supervision, including proposing amendments to the Statutes, appointing the ITA Director General and the external auditors. The Board delegates to the ITA Director General the responsibility of the actual and operational running and management of the ITA, the conduct of all its activities and the actual administration of its assets.
This structure ensures that the ITA operates under strict good governance principles and that its day-to-day work, managed by a team of professional experts, remains entirely independent from the sport organisations it manages anti-doping programs for. The Board also benefits from the participation of a non-voting independent observer from WADA, reinforcing further the transparency of its governance.
Reflecting on her tenure, Dr Valérie Fourneyron stated: “It has been an honour to chair the ITA Foundation Board since the organisation’s inception. Together with my fellow Board members and the ITA’s dedicated team, we have built an organisation that is today recognised for its independence, professionalism and service to athletes and sport. I warmly congratulate Jacques Antenen on his appointment. His integrity, experience and long-standing commitment to good governance in sport will serve the ITA exceptionally well as it continues to evolve.”
Chair-elect Jacques Antenen said, “I am grateful for the trust placed in me by the Foundation Board. The ITA plays a vital role in safeguarding the integrity of international sport, and I look forward to contributing to its continued development. Together with my colleagues on the Board and the ITA leadership, we will continue strengthening independent, expert and intelligence-led anti-doping programs for the benefit of athletes and the sporting community worldwide.”
The Board also reviewed progress across the ITA’s strategic objectives. The Director General presented a full operational report covering all departments. With the organisation entering the final year of its current strategic plan, the Board noted the continued consolidation of its operational capabilities and the ITA’s growing role as a global centre of expertise for clean sport. With renewed leadership and a reinforced, majority-independent governance structure, the ITA enters 2026 with stability, continuity and a strengthened mandate to support clean sport around the world.
