- Independent adjudication bodies are key

The Ministry of Culture, WADA, the European Council and Anti-Doping Norway all agree that there is a need for independent adjudication bodies.

Independent adjudication bodies are key9

WADA, the European Council and Anti-Doping Norway co-hosted a legal seminar in Oslo, Norway at the end of August this year. There were mainly representatives of the adjudication bodies in European countries who attended the event. The key discussion was about independence and legal rights in doping cases.

WADA’s Director General David Howman also attended the seminar. He accentuated the “Norwegian model” as exemplary, with an independent national anti-doping agency as well as independent adjudication bodies. In Norway, the Hearing and Appeal bodies of The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports (NIF) are the ones who judge potential anti-doping rule violations within organized sports.

"WADA wants more of this. The greatest challenge is to implement this model in countries and parts of the world other than Norway and Europe, where financial resources are scarce. I do not think partial adjudication bodies is a wide spread problem having CAS to catch any irregularities. Nevertheless, strengthening this aspect of the anti-doping work is important," says Howman.

Sergey Khrychikov in the European Council underlines the importance of harmonizing adjudication bodies around the world.

"Not only for the well-being of sports, but also from a human rights point of view. We must promote independence and impartiality."

About 100 people representing more than 30 countries attended the seminar.

"We have worked on harmonizing the anti-doping work in a number of areas, and we are well on our way. With regard to independence, this is most certainly an area of focus for international activities working towards clean sports. From this point of view, I believe this seminar has made a valuable contribution," says Anti-Doping Norway’s CEO Anders Solheim.

The Norwegian Minister of Cultural Affairs, Thorhild Widvey, closed the seminar. Widvey is also a WADA board member.

"My impression is that this was a highly relevant seminar, as it is crucial to underline the importance of independence."