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9 June 2022
As such, the SUS is officially recognised by the ITA as a partner actively engaged in delivering to its national and international students education, training, and research initiatives to improve the delivery of anti-doping programs and promote clean sport.
Alongside the management and implementation of independent anti-doping programs at the highest level, it is of utmost importance to the ITA to support and contribute to the advancement of clean sport worldwide. Approaches to anti-doping must continue to evolve in order to ensure that the most effective education, science, and testing strategies are used to keep up with this constantly changing field.
To advance its mission, the ITA has established an official recognition framework that provides acknowledgement and endorsement to educational institutions that are aligned with its mission and values of integrity, excellence, and equality in sport. An ITA Academic Centre aims to foster and promote professional expertise in the fields of anti-doping and testing, to enhance the knowledge of international students to strengthen the future delivery of high-quality clean sport programs, and to demonstrate innovative and international collaborative approaches across the various anti-doping disciplines.
The Shanghai University of Sport is the first academic institution to receive this official designation from the ITA. As such, the SUS has committed to developing and advancing its scientific research and education in the field of anti-doping and testing. The SUS has been dedicated to innovation and education in sport sciences, actively participating in clean sport in both China and internationally and becoming a global supporter of quality anti-doping programs. With the SUS becoming the first ITA Academic Centre, it can foster and accelerate further education and training for clean and fair sport in the international academic environment.
The signing ceremony between the Shanghai University of Sport and the International Testing Agency was held virtually.
ITA Chair of the Foundation Board Dr Valérie Fourneyron said: “Athlete education and testing workforce training are critically important areas of anti-doping to address it holistically and preventively. The ITA Board is fully supportive of the ITA investing in this area and partnering with the Shanghai University of Sport by appointing it as the first ITA Academic Centre.”
“The ITA and the Shanghai University of Sport share a common vision for clean sport. As the delivery of anti-doping programs requires putting together various fields of expertise such as science, medicine, and technology, we are very honoured to team up with this renowned academic institution to support clean sport education and ITA’s anti-doping programs internationally,” says ITA Director General Benjamin Cohen. “This collaboration will pave the way for us to exchange and join our expertise for the benefit of fair play worldwide. It also constitutes an academic legacy of the ITA after the delivery of anti-doping programs at two Olympic Games – Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 – on the Asian continent.”
To support the development of a global learning and research network for testing and the implementation of anti-doping programs, the ITA strives for further cooperation with academic institutions on all continents and in various clean sport focus areas.
