Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge has represented the Council of Europe in the annual meetings of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on 16 and 17 November in Montreal, Canada. The Deputy Secretary General attended the Executive Committee and participated, as a member representing European Public authorities, in the meeting of the 42-member Foundation Board, which is the highest decision-making of WADA.

Reforms and key issues related to current global anti-doping challenges were discussed, as well as some initial feedback on the new long-term strategy (2025-2029) for WADA was discussed. Also a preliminary presentation of the work associated with the WADA Human Rights Impact Assessment were deliberated.

Deputy Secretary General Berge underlined the constructive cooperation between the Council of Europe and WADA. He highlighted the Council of Europe’s activities in the field of anti-doping and sport integrity, in particular the MARS network of judges and prosecutors responsible for sport and the Committee of Ministers declaration on sport integrity. He also called for the integration of the CM Recommendation 2022(14) on fair procedure in anti-doping proceedings into the World Anti-Doping Code and international standards.

Mr Berge held bilateral meetings with Witold Banka, President of WADA and Sandra Bergqvist, Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity of Finland, member of the WADA Foundation Board on behalf of the European Union.