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Valloni / News  / WORLD ANTI-DOPING AGENCY NEW ANTI-DOPING CODE
30 Januar 2026

WORLD ANTI-DOPING AGENCY NEW ANTI-DOPING CODE

The 2027 World Anti-Doping Code (Code) and International Standards (Standards) have been approved on 5 December 2025 by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Foundation Board and Executive Committee respectively, at the WADA Sixth World Conference on Doping in Sport held in Busan, Republic of Korea.

The 2027 Code and Standards will come into force on 1 January 2027.

The texts of the Code and Standards may be found on the WADA website at: www.wada-ama.org.

Background

The World Anti-Doping Code was first adopted in 2003 and took effect in 2004. It was subsequently amended five times, the first time effective 1 January 2009, the second time effective 1 January 2015, the third time effective 1 April 2018 (compliance amendments), the fourth time effective 1 June 2019 (reporting of certain endogenous substances as Atypical Findings), and the fifth time effective 1 January 2021.

The revised 2027 World Anti-Doping Code is effective as of 1 January 2027.

Published by: World Anti-Doping Agency Stock Exchange Tower 800 Place Victoria (Suite 1700) PO Box 120 Montreal, Quebec Canada H3C 0B4.

 

World Anti-Doping Code 2027

Purposes, scope and organization of the World Anti-Doping Program

Purposes and Scope

The purposes of the World Anti-Doping Program are:

− To protect the Athletes’ fundamental right to participate in doping-free sport and thus promote health, fairness and equality for Athletes worldwide, and − To ensure harmonized, coordinated and effective anti-doping programs at the international and national level with regard to the prevention of doping, including:  Education — to raise awareness, inform, communicate, to instil values, develop life skills and decision-making capability to prevent intentional and unintentional anti-doping rule violations. Deterrence — to divert potential dopers, through ensuring that robust rules and sanctions are in place and salient for all stakeholders. Detection — an effective Testing and investigations system not only enhances a deterrent effect but also is effective in protecting clean Athletes and the spirit of sport by catching those committing anti-doping rule violations, while also helping to disrupt anyone engaged in doping behavior. Enforcement — to adjudicate and sanction those found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation. Rule of law — to ensure that all relevant stakeholders have agreed to submit to the Code and the International Standards, and that all measures taken in application of their anti-doping programs respect the Code, the International Standards, and the principles of proportionality and human rights.

Organization

The World Anti-Doping Program encompasses all of the elements needed in order to ensure optimal harmonization and best practice in international and national Anti-Doping programs. The main elements are:

Level 1: The World Anti-Doping Code

The Code is the fundamental and universal document upon which the World Anti-Doping Program in sport is based. The purpose of the Code is to advance the anti-doping effort through universal harmonization of core anti-doping elements. It is intended to be specific enough to achieve complete harmonization on issues where uniformity is required, yet general enough in other areas to permit flexibility on how agreed-upon anti-doping principles are implemented. The Code has been drafted giving consideration to the principles of proportionality and human rights. End Note 1

Level 2: International Standards, Technical Documents and Technical Letters

International Standards

International Standards for different technical and operational areas within the anti-doping program have been and will be developed in consultation with the Signatories and governments and approved by WADA. The purpose of the International Standards is harmonization among Anti-Doping Organizations responsible for specific technical and operational parts of anti-doping programs. Adherence to the International Standards is mandatory for compliance with the Code. The International Standards may be revised from time to time by the WADA Executive Committee after reasonable consultation with Signatories, governments and other relevant stakeholders. International Standards and all revisions will be published on the WADA website and shall become effective on the date specified in the International Standard or revision. End Note 2

Technical Documents                                                                  

Technical Documents relating to mandatory technical requirements for the implementation of an International Standard may be approved and published from time to time by the WADA Executive Committee. Adherence to Technical Documents is mandatory for compliance with the Code. Where the implementation of a new or revised Technical Document is not time sensitive, the WADA Executive Committee shall allow for reasonable consultation with Signatories, governments and other relevant stakeholders. Technical Documents shall become effective immediately upon publication on the WADA website unless a later date is specified. End Note 3

Technical Letters

Technical Letters relating to mandatory technical requirements provided by WADA from time to time (ad-hoc) to address particular issues on the analysis, interpretation and reporting of specific Prohibited Substances(s) and/or Prohibited Method(s) or on the application of specific Laboratory or Athlete Biological Passport Laboratory procedures.

Level 3: Models of Best Practice and Guidelines

Models of best practice and guidelines based on the Code and International Standards have been and will be developed to provide solutions in different areas of anti-doping. The models and guidelines will be recommended by WADA and made available to Signatories and other relevant stakeholders but will not be mandatory. In addition to providing models of anti-doping documentation, WADA will also make some training assistance available to the Signatories. End Note 4

Fundamental rationale for the World Anti-Doping Code

Anti-doping programs are founded on the intrinsic value of sport. This intrinsic value is often referred to as “the spirit of sport”: the ethical pursuit of human excellence through the dedicated perfection of each Athlete’s natural talents.  Anti-doping programs seek to protect the health of Athletes and to provide the opportunity for Athletes to pursue human excellence without the Use of Prohibited Substances and Methods. Anti-doping programs seek to maintain the integrity of sport in terms of respect for rules, other competitors, fair competition, a level playing field, and the value of clean sport to the world. The spirit of sport is the celebration of the human spirit, body and mind. It is the essence of Olympism and is reflected in the values we find in and through sport, including:

  • Health
  • Ethics, fair play and honesty
  • Athletes’ rights as set forth in the Code
  • Excellence in performance
  • Character and Education
  • Fun and joy
  • Teamwork
  • Dedication and commitment
  • Respect for rules and laws
  • Respect for self and other Participants
  • Courage
  • Community and solidarity
  • The spirit of sport is expressed in how we play true
  • Doping is fundamentally contrary to the spirit of sport

END NOTES

1 Comment: The Olympic Charter and the International Convention against Doping in Sport 2005 adopted in Paris on 19 October 2005 (“UNESCO Convention”), both recognize the prevention of and the fight against doping in sport as a critical part of the mission of the International Olympic Committee and UNESCO, and also recognize the fundamental role of the Code.

2 Comment: The International Standards contain much of the technical detail necessary for implementing the Code. International Standards will, in consultation with the Signatories, governments and other relevant stakeholders, be developed by experts and set forth in separate documents. It is important that the WADA Executive Committee be able to make timely changes to the International Standards without requiring any amendment of the Code.

3 Comment: For example, where an additional analytical procedure is required before reporting a Sample as an Adverse Analytical Finding, that procedure would be mandated in a Technical Document issued immediately by the WADA Executive Committee.

4 Comment: These model documents may provide alternatives from which stakeholders may select. Some stakeholders may choose to adopt the model rules and other models of best practices verbatim. Others may decide to adopt the models with modifications. Still other stakeholders may choose to develop their own rules consistent with the general principles and specific requirements set forth in the Code. Model documents or guidelines for specific parts of anti-doping work have been developed and may continue to be developed based on generally recognized stakeholder needs and expectations.

We advise and represent clients in all anti-doping cases and further information is available from our Managing Partner, Dr Lucien Valloni, by emailing him at valloni@valloni.ch and also from the other members of our team for anti-doping cases in their respective countries, whose email addresses may be found in the Team section of our website at www.valloni.ch.

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