Anti-Doping Commission Receives Guidelines for Whistleblower Protection

The Anti-Doping Commission has received from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) new
Human Resource Management Guidelines, which will serve as a model of best practice for the
Anti-Doping Organizations to manage information provided by individuals.

The use of human sources, which includes whistleblowers, is a legitimate and important anti-
doping investigative tool and an integral part of the prosecution of many anti-doping rule
violation (ADRV) cases.
“In the fight against doping in sport, thanks to the new WADA Human Source Management
Guidelines, we will strengthen our framework for the protection and ethical management of
information obtained from whistleblowers. These Guidelines will not only improve our
efficiency, but also underline our commitment to protecting individuals who contribute to clean
sport. In the Anti-Doping Commission, we are committed to the implementation of these
Guidelines in order to ensure fair and honest treatment of every contribution to preserving the
integrity of sport”, said the Director of the Anti-Doping Commission, dr Olivera Prodanović.
The management of human sources must be at the highest ethical and professional level in order
to ensure the protection of their identity and the confidentiality of the information they
provide. To this end, WADA’s Intelligence and Investigations (I&I) Sector has developed these
Guidelines to support Anti-Doping Organizations in developing and managing human sources
programs. The Guidelines, which contain basic principles and best practices, are part of WADA’s
ongoing work to better educate Anti-Doping Organizations about methodologies and practices in
this important area.
“WADA and the anti-doping community have a responsibility to ensure the protection of human
sources assisting in an investigation and the safeguarding of their information. The best way to
do this is to develop a human sources program based on the principles of documentation,
supervision, direction and risk management. The Guidelines provide practical guidance on how
to achieve this, but also set a standard for Anti-Doping Organizations currently working with
human sources,” said Damien Larin, Head of WADA’s Confidential Information Unit.
THE ANTI-DOPING COMMISSION

For clean sport: National Federations to harmonize acts with WADA standards

The Anti-Doping Commission calls on all National Sports Federations to implement the
standards of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) within their internal acts and procedures.
Each federation is obliged to adapt its procedures and regulations in accordance with WADA
guidelines. This includes, but is not limited to, the regulation of areas related to the health of
athletes, protection against doping and abuse of supplements, and the promotion of sports ethics.
In line with its mission to preserve the integrity of sport and the health of athletes, the
Commission offers Federations detailed recommendations and expert assistance in integrating
anti-doping rules into their organizational structures.
The Commission created a document that provides detailed guidelines to National Sports
Federations for integrating anti-doping rules into their internal documents, directing them to preserve the health of athletes, prevent doping and promote sports ethics in accordance with
WADA standards.
The document includes definitions of anti-doping rules, obligations of competition organizers to implement doping control and foresees punitive measures for violations of these rules,
emphasizing the obligation of Federations to actively contribute to the fight against doping and
the implementation of effective measures and procedures.
This process of compliance with WADA standards is not only recommended, but also
mandatory, in order to ensure compliance with anti-doping rules and preserve a fair and healthy
sports environment. The Federations’ proactive cooperation and commitment to this task are key
to the success of this initiative.

THE ANTI-DOPING COMMISSION

Dr. Olivera Prodanović participated in the CAHAMA meeting of the Council of Europe

The 62nd CAHAMA meeting was held on November 8 and 9, 2023, in the Palais de l’Europe of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. As an online delegate, the Director of the Anti-Doping Commission, Dr. Olivera Prodanović, participated as a representative of Montenegro. The leading European experts in the anti-doping field gathered, because the result greatly depends on active cooperation.


Special attention was paid to the emerging issues related to the process of the update on World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards, progress report on Gender Equality in Anti-Doping, and the exchange between delegations on anti-doping policy.


The work of delegates continues through individual working groups dedicated to individual topics, such as science, education, data confidentiality, compliance, and others

Milestone 1

I didn’t even get to look back, and a year has already passed since I bravely stepped into the challenge and started working as the Director of the Anti-Doping Commission, a new independent legal entity. Inspired by the great love for the values ​​that anti-doping represents, the world that my dear colleagues and support Dr. Mira Jovanovski Dašić and Dr. Aleksandar Vujičić introduced me to, I tried month after month to establish the foundations of our national anti-doping organization within international standards, giving my contribution to the fight to protect the integrity and health of our athletes.


In this way, in a short time we showed that we are a valuable member of the world anti-doping community, finding our place among those who never have too much talk and action in preserving and improving what has been achieved in the field of anti-doping.


The need to strengthen communication and visibility of anti-doping activities was highlighted during the recently concluded UNESCO Conference, whose participants agreed that cooperation between national and regional anti-doping organizations, as well as with sports federations and other main actors, should be continued. In addition to continuing the harmonization of the anti-doping environment through WADA consultations on national compliance, UNESCO continues with intergovernmental dialogues at the level of the competent Ministries, as well as the Council of Europe.


The best domestic and foreign experts, members of the anti-doping community, as well as numerous personalities and organizations that recognize these values, have given their trust to the newly established Anti-Doping Commission and me through cooperation, and the result is the outstanding ratings we receive, given that we are someone who it just includes on these new legal grounds in the important anti-doping story. Infront of me are new tasks, new projects, new challenges, and I look forward to the process through which we will become better and more aligned with European and world guidelines and recommendations, changing in accordance with new knowledge.


Athletes are always our priority – and that is the only thing we will not change in the future. Continue to be with us, together we will achieve the set goals, and thank you for your trust!


Director of the Anti-Doping Commission, Dr. Olivera Prodanović

Anti-doping education is key in preserving the integrity of sport

Anti-doping education is a key component in preserving the integrity of sport, and anti-doping values ​​are inextricably linked to Olympic ideas, it was assessed at the meeting of the director of the Anti-Doping Commission, Olivera Prodanović, and the sports director of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee, Katarina Bulatović.

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“Anti-doping is not just a rule, but a moral and ethical obligation towards all athletes and sports fans. The Anti-Doping Commission remains committed to its mission of protecting the health of athletes and clean sports competitions. Through education, cooperation and joint efforts, we want to work together with the Montenegrin Olympic Committee to create a fair, honest and safe sports environment for everyone, said Prodanović.
The interlocutors agreed on the necessity of intensive anti-doping training for athletes and their supporting staff in order to ensure compliance with anti-doping rules before the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024. This training will contribute to protecting the athletes’ integrity, as well as their health, enabling them to compete at the highest level and achieve their sporting goals.


“Our common goal is to support our athletes in achieving their sporting dreams, with full respect for anti-doping rules, in order to preserve the integrity of sport,” said Bulatović and pointed out that the area of ​​anti-doping is important for the Montenegrin Olympic Committee, not only to protect the reputation of Montenegrin athletes. it already provides access to international sports competitions.


Compliance with anti-doping standards, it was stated at the meeting, ensures that our athletes are competitive on the global sports scene and compete at the highest level, which creates pride and inspiration for future generations of athletes in Montenegro.


The Anti-Doping Commission and Montenegrin Olympic Committee have expressed their intention to continue good cooperation and compliance in the implementation of activities in accordance with international agreements and standards.


THE ANTI-DOPING COMMISSION

UNESCO

UNESCO Conference – Montenegro has made significant progress in complying with the International Convention against Doping in Sports


Director of the Anti-Doping Commission Dr. Olivera Prodanović participated in the Ninth Conference on the International Convention Against Doping in Sports organized by UNESCO on 25-26. October in Paris.


The aim of the conference is to propose modalities for further improvement of the Convention, which are aimed at the needs and expectations of UNESCO member states, but also at adapting to continuous global sports changes and challenges.



The report on the implementation of the International Convention against doping in sports was also discussed, in which, among other things, it was stated that Montenegro, through the full implementation of the Corrective Plan, made significant progress in the previous period in terms of compliance with the aforementioned Convention.



“Through dedicated work and full implementation of the Corrective Plan, Montenegro has achieved significant progress in complying with the Convention. Our country remains committed to preserving clean sport and the fight against doping. We look forward to further cooperation with UNESCO and the international community in order to jointly improve global efforts for fair and clean sport,’ said director Prodanović.


The conference was also an opportunity to establish the necessary contacts of the Anti-Doping Commission with numerous anti-doping subjects, important for mutual cooperation with the aim of harmonizing Montenegro’s contribution to the preservation of anti-doping values. Potentials for further concrete steps in the implementation of joint initiatives were discussed with the exchange of ideas and experiences.



On behalf of Montenegro, the Minister of Sports and Youth Vasilije Lalošević and the head of the Department for International Cooperation Miloš Lalević participated in the conference, as well as the Ambassador of Montenegro to France H.E. Ivan Ivanišević and Tanja Raspopović from the Embassy of Montenegro in Paris.

Minister Matar Bâ from Senegal was elected President of COP9 of the UNESCO Anti-Doping Convention for a period of two years.

Lalošević na konferenciji UNESCO-a u Parizu


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.

The common interest is for Montenegro to have an anti-doping system in compliance with international standards, for the benefit of athletes

The anti-doping system in compliance with international standards and the preservation of sports for the benefit of athletes is the common interest of all active in that social area, it was announced after the meeting of the Minister of Sports and Youth Vasilije Lalošević with members of the Anti-Doping Commission’s Council Dr. Aleksandar Kujović and Dr. Aleksandar Radović, as well as with the Director of the Commission Dr. Olivera Prodanović.

The interlocutors said that the state provided preconditions for the work of the Commission, and that now the focus is on increasing the number of educations, along with the implementation of planned doping controls.

The importance of compliance with international standards in the field of anti-doping was pointed out, which will also be the subject of the IX session of the International UNESCO Conference against doping in sports.

Implementation of anti-doping policies

In order to implement the requirements of the Article 9 of the Anti-Doping Convention, Council of Europe developed an Anti-Doping Questionnaire: Implementation of anti-doping policies. This annual questionnaire was completed and submitted for the revision on 31. 8. 2023., as another necessary condition for compliance with internationally accepted anti-doping values.

Intensifying cooperation in accordance with the signed memorandum of cooperation between CEADO and WADA

29. 8. 2023. – Prof. Dr. Milica Vukašinović Vesić, Director of the Anti-Doping Agency of the Republic of Serbia and Mihael Cepić, President of the Central European Anti-Doping Organization, Dr. Eli Handžiska and Tatjana Blaževska, representatives of the Anti-Doping Commission of North Macedonia, and Dr. Olivera Prodanović, Director of the Anti-Doping Commission of Montenegro, at a meeting aimed at intensifying cooperation in accordance with the signed memorandum of cooperation between CEADO and WADA. The next steps in the development of the fight against doping in sports in North Macedonia and Montenegro were discussed at the meeting.