Only clean moves on the dancefloor: WDSF delegates anti-doping program to the ITA

With the aim to invest in an independent and expert-led anti-doping program for its athletes, WDSF has entered an initial two-year partnership with the ITA. Within the framework of this collaboration, the international federation has delegated its entire anti-doping program for independent management by the ITA as of the beginning of June 2022.

The ITA will carry out a comprehensive risk assessment of the various dance disciplines, which in turn will feed into the test distribution planning of in- and out-of-competition doping controls, also implemented by the ITA. The administration of the Athlete Biological Passports (ABPs) of DanceSport athletes and the handling of Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) will also be managed by the independent anti-doping body. The ITA will furthermore enhance the anti-doping efforts of WDSF with a long-term sample storage strategy that enables the storage and re-analysis of selected samples for up to ten years after the collection date.

To provide DanceSport athletes with the most comprehensive anti-doping program possible, the ITA will lead investigations and the collection of intelligence for WDSF, as well as the possibility for the confidential sharing of information through its doping reporting platform REVEAL.

All clean sport activities on behalf of WDSF will be carried out by the ITA in strict compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code and its International Standards, with ITA’s dedicated Regulatory Compliance Unit ensuring full alignment with all mandatory rules. Any potential anti-doping rule violations stemming from its anti-doping efforts will be subject to independent results management by the ITA.

The ITA will also raise awareness about doping, support clean sport values and contribute to doping prevention among DanceSport athletes with the establishment of a four-year education plan in compliance with the WADA International Standard for Education.

“We are excited to support DanceSport athletes with a comprehensive and independently-led clean sport program and thank the WDSF for their trust and partnership,” said Benjamin Cohen, Director General of the ITA. “DanceSport has continued to professionalise in recent years and breaking will debut as an Olympic discipline in Paris 2024 – this is the perfect time to invest in an expert-led anti-doping program and we look forward to supporting WDSF athletes across all dancing disciplines.”

WDSF President Shawn Tay said: “The WDSF warmly welcomes this new agreement with the ITA, which further bolsters the considerable efforts we have already made in the fight against doping in DanceSport, including our ambitious multi-year anti-doping education programme launched last December called Dance Clean. The partnership with the ITA is a logical and powerful next step, and we look forward to making great strides in this area in the coming years thanks to their expertise, technical knowhow, and professional support.”