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9 April 2026
The initiative reflects the shared commitment of both organisations with the full support of the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova, which oversees sport nationally, to protect athletes and the integrity of sport competitions by strengthening the implementation of anti-doping activities in Moldova through the combination of national experience with independent international operational expertise.
National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs) play a central role in the global anti-doping framework. NADOs are the primary bodies responsible for implementing and enforcing the World Anti-Doping Code at national level. The ITA works closely with NADOs and Regional Anti-Doping Organisations (RADOs) around the world through collaboration agreements to facilitate exchanges and cooperation across the global anti-doping community, helping to strengthen synergies between national- and international-level anti-doping programs.
This partnership between the ITA and NADO Moldova builds on this spirit of cooperation and extends it further, bringing together the complementary capacities of both organisations and increased independence in several key operational areas of Moldova’s anti-doping program.
Under this partnership, NADO Moldova contributes its knowledge of the national sport landscape, its proximity to athletes and stakeholders, and its role within the domestic anti-doping framework while the ITA brings its independence, digital tools and specialised expertise developed through the implementation of World Anti-Doping Code-compliant programs for more than 80 partner organisations worldwide.
Working together, the two organisations aim to reinforce the effectiveness and sustainability of anti-doping activities in Moldova while ensuring that Moldovan athletes benefit from a strong and credible system.
Key elements include:
• A risk assessment performed by the ITA using its data analytics capabilities, informed by NADO Moldova’s insight into the Moldovan sport environment.
• The developmentof a Testing Distribution Plan (TDP) by the ITA, with the support of NADO Moldova, ensuring risk-based strategy and implementation by the ITA of independent testing of athletes in Moldova.
• Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) data monitored by specialised experts within the ITA’s global program.
• Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) applications reviewed by the ITA’s International Therapeutic Use Exemption Committee (ITUEC), drawing on a broad spectrum of medical expertise and established processes, while NADO Moldova facilitates administrative coordination and communication with athletes in their preferred language.
• Dedicated compliance support to assist NADO Moldova in resolving outstanding Corrective Actions identified through the WADA Compliance Monitoring Programme, with the objective of closing the Compliance Audit Report (CAR) and ensuring full alignment with the World Anti-Doping Code.
The results management of any potential cases stemming from the ITA-supported anti-doping activities and the clean sport education of Moldovan athletes will be managed by NADO Moldova in line with their national anti-doping framework.
Benjamin Cohen, Director General of the ITA, said: “Strong National Anti-Doping Organisations are fundamental to the credibility of the global anti-doping system. By combining NADO Moldova’s knowledge of the national sport landscape with the ITA’s independent operational and compliance expertise, we can reinforce key elements of the program while ensuring that Moldovan athletes benefit from a robust and credible framework. The ITA was created to contribute to the fight against doping globally and we are pleased to support NADO Moldova in this spirit of collaboration. This partnership is a great step towards increased independence and better governance in the fight against doping in Moldova.”
Artiom Jucov, Director General of the NADO Moldova, said: “Our mission and responsibility is to ensure that the anti-doping program in Moldova is implemented in a consistent, confident and accountable way. This partnership with the ITA allows us to further strengthen key areas of our program and benefit from international expertise in the implementation of anti-doping activities. It is an important step in the continued development of our system in line with the World Anti-Doping Code and in the interest of clean athletes in Moldova.”
Anti-doping is indeed a shared responsibility across the global sport community. In a context where resources across the anti-doping landscape are often limited, initiatives like this one that combine existing know-how and capabilities can significantly strengthen the effectiveness of the system while avoiding unnecessary duplication of efforts. As a Signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code, NADO Moldova, like other National and Regional Anti-Doping Organisations, International Federations and Major Event Organisers, is responsible for delivering Code-compliant anti-doping programs and may rely on the International Testing Agency (ITA) to support their effective implementation.
Through this partnership, the ITA and NADO Moldova will share expertise and strengthen operational capacities while contributing to a robust and credible anti-doping framework – ultimately benefiting Moldovan athletes and helping safeguard the integrity of sport in Moldova and beyond.
