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24 August 2026
The ITA Academy brings together the ITA’s workforce training, professional development and certification programs to support high-quality clean sport activities worldwide.
Since its launch, it has provided a central home for programs that prepare anti-doping professionals for roles in the field, online and at major events, supporting NADOs, RADOs, IFs, major event organisers and individuals through live and virtual training.
At its core, the Academy is built on a simple principle: clean sport depends on people. Its programs help DCOs, BCOs, chaperones, educators and other professionals deliver reliable, respectful and consistent anti-doping processes across borders.
The ITA Academy’s first year has given the ITA’s training offer a clearer identity, stronger recognition and a shared framework.
It has supported professionals from foundation-level learning to advanced certification and continuing development, reaching a broad international audience and meeting growing demand for structured, high-quality training.
By bringing together programs for DCOs, BCOs, educators, Chaperones and other anti-doping personnel, the Academy is building a more consistent and connected clean sport workforce.
Dr Mark Stuart OBE, Head of ITA Academy
“The first year of the ITA Academy has built structure and quality around our growing training portfolio. Our focus is to support clean sport professionals at different stages of their development, from foundation-level learning to advanced professional certification, while maintaining consistent standards across our programs. The launch of the ITA Academic Centre at the University of Queensland this year has been an exciting step to extend that work in the Australia and Oceania region ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. ”
Protecting athletes and fair competition is central to the ITA’s mission. The ITA Academy supports this by preparing professionals to deliver clean sport through education, testing and major event activities.
Its programs help Doping Control Officers, Blood Collection Officers, educators, chaperones and other anti-doping personnel apply their expertise in demanding environments, combining technical knowledge with accuracy, judgement and care.
The DCO Foundation Training Program marks the start of a DCO’s professional journey, while two-year ITA IDCO certification supports ongoing development and high standards throughout their career.
Beyond training, the ITA Academy supports knowledge exchange and continued learning. Its DCO & BCO International Forum brought together more than 750 sample collection professionals from over 130 countries to discuss challenges, trends and best practices.
The 2025 theme, “Collaboration, Innovation, Integrity”, reflected this role as a space for exchange, practical learning and professional development.
Looking ahead, the ITA Academy will continue to support workforce training, professional development and knowledge exchange. This role was also reflected in the inaugural Clean Sport in Action International Forum, co-organised by the ITA, the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organisations (iNADO) and the World Association of Anti-Doping Scientists (WAADS) in Lausanne in April 2026, where experts exchanged practical experience and explored ways to improve anti-doping programs worldwide.
The ITA Academy’s reach also extends beyond its own courses through a growing network of ITA Academic Centres. This year saw The University of Queensland (UQ) in Brisbane designated as an ITA Academic Centre, the second such centre worldwide. It joins the Shanghai University of Sport, which became the first ITA Academic Centre in 2022, and together these institutions form the foundation of an international network of academic partners working alongside the ITA.
As an ITA Academic Centre, UQ will provide its students, staff, alumni and other eligible participants with access to the ITA’s international training and certification programs, helping prepare the next generation of Doping Control Officers, Blood Collection Officers, chaperones and clean sport educators. The partnership will also promote joint academic research to improve anti-doping operations, integrate anti-doping expertise into UQ’s curricula, and open up internship and knowledge-exchange opportunities across the operational, scientific and workforce training aspects of clean sport delivery.
The collaboration carries particular significance as momentum builds towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, for which the ITA will independently manage the anti-doping program on behalf of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). As the ITA Academic Centre for Australia and Oceania, UQ is positioned to help create a lasting clean sport legacy across the region while strengthening the global network of Academic Centres that supports the ITA Academy’s mission.
The ITA Academy is supported by Berlinger Special AG as Official Partner, reflecting a shared commitment to strengthening the global anti-doping workforce. As a provider of specialised anti-doping equipment, Berlinger is part of the ecosystem that supports clean sport in practice.
Training, equipment and reliable procedures are closely connected. Anti-doping professionals need to understand the tools that protect process integrity, while specialist providers bring practical field insight that supports harmonised procedures, effective training and continuous improvement.
Through this partnership, Berlinger contributes to the shared goal of preparing professionals to deliver secure, fair and reliable processes for athletes, combining training expertise, operational experience and trusted equipment in support of clean sport.
