The first Anti-Doping Summit of Central and Eastern Europe: The importance of international cooperation and education for the fight against doping

The first Anti-Doping Summit of Central and Eastern Europe, held on October 9 and 10 in Warsaw, highlighted the importance of international cooperation, education and involvement of athletes in the fight against doping. The summit, which was attended by the director of the Montenegrin Anti-Doping Commission, Dr. Olivera Prodanović, laid the foundations for a stronger, united and more proactive approach to preserving the integrity of sports in Central and Eastern Europe and around the world.

The summit, which was attended by more than 70 leading anti-doping experts from 26 different countries, was organized by the Polish Anti-Doping Agency (POLADA) in cooperation with the Polish Ministry of Sports and Tourism. The focus of the summit was on a number of topics related to the fight against doping, including:

1. Cooperation between National Anti-Doping Agencies (NADOs) at the international and regional level;

2. Discussions on the World Anti-Doping Code in 2027 and the updating of international standards;

3. Intelligence activities and investigations, including cooperation between anti-doping agencies and judicial authorities;

4. The importance of education in the prevention of doping in sports; and

5. The role of athletes and the media in the promotion of clean sports.

The meeting was attended by the leaders of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), President Witold Banka and Director General Olivier Niggli, who emphasized the importance of harmonization, innovation and unity as three key goals for achieving the global anti-doping system that athletes deserve.

“The key to the success of the fight against doping around the world is cooperation. No single organization can achieve equal treatment for all athletes. WADA relies on the expertise, energy and local knowledge of all our global partners. Here in Central and Eastern Europe, we have reliable partners who together make a difference”, said Banka.

The General Director of the Anti-Doping Agency of Poland, Michal Rynkowski, pointed out that POLADA is strongly focused on international cooperation and providing assistance to anti-doping organizations that are developing, gathering at this important anti-doping event a large number of important figures who deal with the suppression of doping in Europe and around the world for the benefit of athletes and integrity of sports competitions.

Summits like this one, Banka added, really help because they provide a platform for anti-doping agencies to come together, share best practices and discover new ways of working together.

Director Prodanović pointed out the importance of Montenegro’s participation in such gatherings and the impact it has on athletes and the integrity of sports.

“Through the international cooperation, education of athletes and strengthening of the role of athletes and the media in the promotion of clean sports, we together create the foundations for better and fair sports conditions for our athletes. This summit sets a positive example for future efforts to achieve clean and fair sport around the world, and Montenegro is proud to be part of this important process,’ Prodanović believes.