Readout of ONDCP Meetings with World Anti-Doping Agency Executive Committee, International Olympic Committee, and United States Antidoping Agency Members

This week, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director Dr. Rahul Gupta traveled to Turkey for a series of meetings with leadership from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), International Olympic Committee (IOC), partner governments and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) ahead of the WADA Executive Committee Meeting on Thursday, September 12, 2024.

In Belek, Antalya, Dr. Gupta led the charge to build consensus on the path forward to proactively pursue every opportunity for reforms that would strengthen WADA. The world governments and other leaders on the Executive Committee relayed deep concerns heard directly from athletes in their countries, how athlete voices must remain front and center in these discussions, and how their perspectives must drive reform moving forward.

Dr. Gupta also met with senior IOC officials, WADA leadership, and USADA officials to discuss coordinated efforts all antidoping stakeholders can and must take together to strengthen the entire global anti-doping enterprise.

On Thursday, Dr. Gupta participated in the WADA’s Executive Committee Meeting. During the meeting, Dr. Gupta heard a presentation from, and participated in questioning the Independent Prosecutor, Eric Cottier, and joined government leaders in calling for a series of additional expedited actions to strengthen global antidoping efforts, increase transparency in the handling of doping allegations, and restore the full trust and confidence of athletes in WADA. The Executive Committee announced their creation of a sub-committee to pursue these actions, and will be convening in the coming weeks to deliver on the proposed reforms.

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