Clean strokes only: World Rowing delegates its entire anti-doping program to the ITA

World Rowing has decided to take its anti-doping program one step further and have it run independently by the ITA. A four-year contract between the two organisations marks the start of the partnership. Starting in April 2021, the ITA will manage the entire In- and Out-of-Competition testing activities, including risk assessment, test distribution planning, as well as the administration of the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) and athlete whereabouts. The ITA will also take over the administration of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) and the Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) for rowers.

Results management of potential anti-doping rule violations will also henceforth be handled by the ITA on behalf of World Rowing, as well as investigations and the gathering of intelligence to uncover doping through relevant information. The ITA will furthermore develop and implement a long-term storage and re-analysis strategy for the federation.

The partnership also aims to strengthen doping prevention for rowing athletes through the creation and realisation of an educational plan by ITA experts in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) International Standard for Education.

ITA’s Regulatory Compliance Unit will ensure that all elements of the World Rowing anti-doping program are fully in line with the World Anti-Doping Code and its connected standards and support its new partner with all the support and consultation needed to address any kind of audit and potential corrective actions.

“World Rowing represents an Olympic sport with a great tradition and history that has managed to remain exciting for athletes and fans up until today”, says ITA Director General Benjamin Cohen. “It is an organisation that has always been at the forefront of its anti-doping efforts, for instance by being the first International Federation to introduce Out-of-Competition testing, by being an early adopter of the Athlete Biological Passport or by introducing a ‘no needles’ policy over a decade ago. We are extremely proud that World Rowing, in this spirit of offering the best protection for its athletes, has decided to partner with the ITA for an independent clean sport program run by our experts.”

“World Rowing has always taken the fight against doping in sport seriously and strongly,” says World Rowing President Jean-Christophe Rolland. “We are committed to the health and safety of our athletes as well as promoting fair play and clean sport.  In the increasingly complex environment of anti-doping, the ITA now provides independent management which is also important for the credibility of sport. We have full confidence in the ongoing success of the partnership.”

ABOUT WORLD ROWING

The World Rowing Federation, previously named FISA (from the French, Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d’Aviron) is the governing body of the sport of rowing. It is empowered by its 156 member National Rowing Federations.

World Rowing sets the rules and regulations for the practice of the sport, in all its forms including elite, para-rowing, coastal, masters and aspects of indoor rowing. World Rowing oversees sanctioned events and provides advice and expertise for the organisation of rowing regattas. The Federation also works on coaching education and other matters relating to the sport and its development.