September 23, 2007 (Montreal, QC) – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced today that its Executive Committee approved the List of Prohibited Substances and Methods for 2008.

The 2008 List offers some changes compared to the 2007 List. For example, the 2008 List will include new classes of substances such as selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs), a family of nonsteroidal molecules that has the same effect as anabolic steroids, and agents modifying myostatin functions including but not limited to myostatin inhibitors. The Executive Committee also approved amending the prohibition of intravenous infusions so that intravenous infusions are not permitted except in the treatment of acute medical conditions. The new List will be published online by October 1, 2007, and will go into effect on January 1, 2008.

WADA assumed responsibility for the List following implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) and the International Standards in 2004. The List is developed through a highly consultative year-long process, beginning with the circulation of a draft List among more than 1,700 stakeholders for comment. The comments received are processed by WADA’s List Committee, who then presents its conclusions to the WADA Health, Medical and Research Committee, who in turn submits its final recommendations the Executive Committee at the annual September meeting. The Executive Committee, WADA’s ultimate policy-making body, discusses the recommendations and makes a final decision.

Review of the World Anti-Doping Code

The Executive Committee was consulted on the third working draft revision of the World Anti-Doping Code-the core document adopted by the Sport Movement and Governments of the world as the framework for the global harmonized fight against doping in sport.

“Since coming into force on January 1, 2004, the Code has proven to be a very powerful and effective tool in the harmonization of anti-doping efforts worldwide, as is indicated by the overwhelming support of governments and sports in adopting the Code, as well as the growing body of Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) jurisprudence supporting the Code’s tenets,” said WADA President Richard W. Pound. “We have been engaged in a thorough and extensive process that will result in the strengthening of the global fight against doping in sport by making enhancements and practical improvements to the Code.”

The Code’s third draft revision is the product of the third and final stakeholder consultation phase. The entire process of review and consultation will have taken over 18 months, and is intended to fine-tune the Code and enhance the global fight against doping in sport. The final draft will be published on October 15, 2007, and discussed and approved at the WADA Foundation Board meeting hosted in conjunction with the Third World Conference on Doping in Sport in Madrid (Spain) in November 2007. (For more information about the World Conference visit www.wadamadrid2007.com.)

Budget

The Executive Committee discussed the 2008 draft budget. The proposed budget calls for a minor increase of four percent, bringing the 2008 annual budget to US$26.5 million. The budget will be submitted for approval by WADA’s Foundation Board at its November meeting.

WADA’s budget and government contributions in 2007 were also examined. WADA has received close to 94 percent of its 2007 budget to date from governments and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and anticipates the final contributions this year to be similar to the 97 percent collected in 2006.

Concerns were raised however that there remain a select few countries which have not met their contribution responsibilities in past years and in 2007. The Executive Committee concluded that these countries, by not meeting their financial commitment to WADA and the fight against doping in sport, will forfeit their right to be heard during the public debate held at the World Conference on Doping in Sport in November.

“The rate at which WADA stakeholders fulfill their financial responsibilities accelerates every year and indicates universal support of the work we do on their behalf in the global fight against doping in sport,” said Pound. “We encourage the few, who have resisted playing their part until now, to undertake to join with the rest of the global community and commit firmly to combating the scourge of doping.”

Scientific Research

WADA will dedicate US$ 5.6 million to scientific research in 2007. A record number of proposals (73) were received from all five continents, and 33 were selected for funding. These projects will help to advance research in such areas as the detection of blood manipulations, genomic techniques to detect gene manipulation, the detection of hormones (e.g. insulin), as well as increase knowledge on known doping substances.

Since 2001, WADA has committed more than US$31 million to scientific research. WADA-sponsored research is targeted at identifying and detecting doping substances and methods, and some examples of outcomes include the development and validation of a detection method for haemoglobin based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) and the demonstration of the masking properties of finasteride.

Code Compliance Monitoring

A preliminary report on the compliance of International Federations (IFs) and anti-doping organizations (ADOs) with the World Anti-Doping Code was presented to the Executive Committee. The Code assigns WADA the responsibility to formally report on stakeholder compliance every two years, and WADA will make its first official report in November 2008.

“The Code was approved in 2003 and came into force in January 2004, so that it is reasonable to expect all ADOs and IFs to have achieved full Code compliance, including the implementation of out-of-competition testing programs,” said Pound. “This preliminary report shows that while many organizations are actively engaged in the fight against doping with Code-compliant programs, there are some lagging behind. Doping is the greatest danger facing ethical sports today, and everyone should be aware that the consequences of not facing this danger head-on through Code compliance can be far-reaching, including non-participation in the Olympic Games.”