ITA Chair Dr. Valérie Fourneyron honored with Olympic Order, congratulates IOC President-elect Kirsty Coventry

Receiving the Olympic Order, the highest award of the Olympic Movement, represents a recognition of Dr. Fourneyron’s steadfast dedication to fair play and integrity in sport. As the founding Chair of the ITA, her leadership has been instrumental in transforming the global anti-doping landscape, ensuring that clean sport is upheld as a core value within the Olympic Movement. This prestigious honour, awarded by IOC President Thomas Bach, acknowledges her pivotal role in establishing an independent anti-doping agency that serves athletes and stakeholders worldwide with transparency, trust, expertise and excellence. “With Valérie Fourneyron, we are honouring a remarkable leader whose entire career has been guided by her commitment to sport, public health and good governance”, said President Bach.

The ITA extends its heartfelt congratulations to the newly elected IOC President, Kirsty Coventry, a former ITA Board Member. Mrs. Coventry played a crucial role in the establishment and growth of the ITA, bringing invaluable insight from both her experiences as an elite athlete and as a former Chair of the IOC Athletes Commission. Her presence on the ITA Board helped shape the agency’s strategic direction, ensuring its independence, transparency, and effectiveness in the fight against doping. Her appointment as IOC President signals a continued commitment to safeguarding clean sport on the global stage. As a steadfast advocate for clean sport, her appointment reinforces efforts to protect the health and integrity of athletes worldwide. The ITA is confident that under her leadership, the fight against doping will remain at the forefront of the Olympic Movement. Dr. Fourneyron remarked on the significance of this moment, stating, “I extend my sincere congratulations to Mrs. Coventry on becoming the first woman to lead the IOC as President and being recognised for her exemplary Olympic career and her great personal qualities. Through this election, the IOC Members have sent a resounding message to the world, reinforcing the principles of gender equality outlined in the Olympic Agenda 2020, together with the historic milestone of the inaugural gender-equal Olympic Games in Paris.”

A Milestone in Clean Sport: Paris 2024 and Beyond

In her final address as ITA Chair at the IOC Session, Dr. Fourneyron took the opportunity to reflect on the profound progress made in anti-doping efforts and the continued pursuit of fair play in global sport.

Dr. Fourneyron underscored the significance of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as a turning point in clean sport initiatives. She noted that, for the first time in recent history, doping concerns were notably absent from discussions in key reports during the IOC Session—a testament to the progress achieved through independent and expert anti-doping efforts.

The pre-Games testing program, strategic targeting, and data-driven intelligence led to 90% of athletes being tested before competition. More than 6,100 samples were collected during the Games, marking the most extensive anti-doping program in Olympic history. New digital tools enhanced the security and integrity of testing procedures, while collaborations with National Olympic Committees and authorities reinforced a shared commitment to clean sport.

A Legacy of Transformation in Anti-Doping

Dr. Fourneyron paid tribute to the visionary leadership of President Thomas Bach, who, since his election in 2013, prioritised credibility and integrity in sport. She recalled the pivotal moment in 2014, after the world was shaken by several doping scandals, when President Bach set forth a new philosophy, leading to the creation of the ITA in 2018.

“The belief in an independent anti-doping model was reinforced when the IOC led by example, entrusting its entire anti-doping program to the ITA. This was not just a delegation of responsibility; it was a global statement that clean sport is non-negotiable,” she emphasised.

Under her leadership, the ITA has evolved from a pioneering initiative into a leading global anti-doping agency, spearheading innovation in intelligence-led testing, digital security, and compliance-driven governance.

The Road Ahead: Strengthening Anti-Doping Efforts Together

As she prepares to conclude her tenure at the ITA at the end of 2025, Dr. Fourneyron urged continued collaboration between the IOC, WADA, International Federations, National Anti-Doping Organisations, public authorities, and private stakeholders to further strengthen anti-doping measures.

She emphasised the need for:

• Increased cooperation between the Olympic and Paralympic anti-doping programs to ensure equal protection for all athletes.
• Greater independence in national anti-doping programs to eliminate conflicts of interest in testing international elite athletes, in particular prior to major international competitions.
• Support for nations with limited anti-doping resources to enhance global anti-doping expertise.
• Reinforcement of the global regulator with stronger research and tracking mechanisms to combat emerging doping methods and substances.
• Clear and transparent communication to ensure athletes fully understand anti-doping decisions and sanctions.

A Closing Tribute to President Thomas Bach

In her heartfelt closing remarks, Dr. Fourneyron expressed her gratitude to President Thomas Bach for his trust and leadership in the fight for clean sport.

“From the very beginning, you stood by us, Mr. President, with unwavering support. It takes courage to delegate, but your decision to entrust anti-doping operations to an independent body has shaped the future of sport. Your legacy in this regard will endure.”

As the ITA looks to the future, it remains dedicated to upholding the highest standards in anti-doping, ensuring that sport remains a true test of human ability, fairness, and excellence.