The ITA supports the launch of the Milano Cortina 2026 anti-doping e-learning course for athletes and coaches

This collaboration is in line with a key principle of the International Standard for Education (ISE), which promotes that athletes and their support personnel have access to event-specific education in advance of an Olympic Games.  In this spirit, the ITA, alongside WADA and the IOC, encourages National Olympic Committees to work closely with National Anti-Doping Organisations and national federations to ensure that athletes and coaches complete the course before arriving at the Games.

The course is hosted on WADA’s Anti-Doping Education and Learning platform (ADEL). It is currently available in English, French, and Spanish, with additional languages offered upon request¹. Participants will gain important knowledge about key anti-doping processes, including in- and out-of-competition testing procedures, the doping control process, Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs), Whereabouts requirements, and—specifically for athletes—their rights and responsibilities.

Amanda Hudson, WADA’s Director of Education, said:
“WADA is pleased to launch this next edition of our pre-Games education series ‘ADEL for Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026,’ which is a very useful education solution that Anti-Doping Organizations (ADOs) can use to complement their education programs in preparing athletes and coaches for the Games. This course showcases our ongoing collaborative efforts with the IOC and ITA to create impactful education courses that are available globally for the benefit of the anti-doping community. We strongly encourage ADOs to use this course to ensure athletes and coaches are well educated on Games-specific anti-doping rules as a core component of their preparations for Milano Cortina 2026.”

The Milano Cortina 2026 course has been carefully designed to deliver clear and simplified content. These enhancements reflect feedback gathered from the ADEL for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 course, ensuring that this updated version with more accessible language and improved course navigation is accessible and relevant for athletes and coaches worldwide.

Emma Terho, Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission and member of WADA’s Athlete Council, said: “The anti-doping program for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games serves to uphold clean sport for athletes and coaches at the Games. The IOC is proud to support this e-learning course and feels confident that participants will be well prepared for the anti-doping requirements unique to these Winter Games.”

Mairi Irvine, ITA Senior Education Manager, said: “The ITA is leading an independent anti-doping program on behalf of the IOC for Milano Cortina 2026, ensuring robust clean sport operations throughout the Games. Educating athletes and their support personnel about their anti-doping rights and responsibilities remains fundamental in empowering them to protect themselves from doping risks. We are proud to continue our collaboration with WADA and the IOC through the Milano Cortina 2026 ADEL e-learning course, which is now available to all athletes, coaches, and support personnel as they prepare for the Games.”