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Speech by Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe

This conference, and the revision of the World Anti-Doping Code, come at a critical juncture in the world of sport.

The anti-doping system has come a long way since the Code was adopted in 2003.

But we must continue to ensure that sporting standards are maintained without cost to human rights or our democratic values.

These are cornerstones of the first anti-doping convention, which the Council of Europe helped negotiate four decades ago.

Operational for more than 35 years, it is a foundation stone of the anti-doping system.

In tandem with the UNESCO Convention, it provides a legally binding framework for states to combat doping in sports, guided by the European Convention on Human Rights.

WADA has been working to improve human rights in the Code, conducting the Initial Human Rights Impact Assessment and a human rights review.

It has renewed focus on independence of hearing panels, strengthening rule of law principles in doping cases.

This echoes the Council of Europe’s Recommendation on Fair Procedures in Anti-Doping, which models good practice, balancing athlete rights with procedural rigour and NADO authority.

Such developments reinforce protection of athlete’s rights.

But clean sport is more than the elimination of cheating through doping.

Sport is sadly subject to the many challenges that face our societies.

These include crime, corruption, racism and other kinds of discrimination, compounded by abuse, exploitation, disinformation, imbalances of resources and power, and bad governance.

Through the Council of Europe’s Sport Strategy, the European Sports Charter and our sport conventions, we strive to promote integrity in all aspects of sport.

Since the last World Conference in 2019, we have continued to work with our partners, including WADA, to advance all aspects of clean sport. 

Our Monitoring Group of the Anti-Doping Convention is a key forum for public authorities to engage on anti-doping matters, and for evaluating programmes and practices.

The Saint-Denis Convention helps uphold the safety and security for those who participate in and attend sport events.

And the Macolin Convention unites public authorities with sporting bodies and betting companies to combat illegal betting and the manipulation of sports competitions.

MARS, our Network of Magistrates and Prosecutors for Sport, strengthens international co-operation and the exchange of information.

And 46 European governments have now adopted a Declaration on Sport Integrity.

Dear friends,

Everyone — from athletes to coaches to NADOs to governments has a role to play in ensuring sport is fair and clean.

Because clean sport is fundamental to us all.