Montreal, 26 October 2005 – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) today announced that it is following up the call by UNESCO and the Olympic Movement for governments to act quickly to ratify the International Convention on Doping in Sport that was adopted unanimously by the General Conference of UNESCO on October 19, 2005.

“Governments have assured the sports movement that they would adopt this convention in time for it to be in force during the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino,” said WADA chairman Richard Pound. “This is a very important demonstration of government commitment to our partnership in the fight against doping in sport.”

Under UNESCO procedures for conventions, thirty countries must ratify the Convention prior to December 31, 2005, in order for it to become effective by February 1, 2006. “WADA will create a special recognition for all countries that ratify the Convention by December 31st,” announced Pound. “We want to establish a permanent Wall of Fame in our headquarters for those countries who delivered on their promises made as early as two and half years ago and who have worked to make this Convention a reality.”

WADA has urged all of its Foundation Board members, including those from the sports movement, to encourage speedy ratification of the Convention and will request a progress report from its members at the forthcoming Executive Committee and Foundation Board meetings in November.

Contact for the media:

Frédéric Donzé, WADA Media Relations Manager
Phone : + 1-514-904-8820
E-mail : frederic.donze@wada-ama.org

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The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is the international independent organization created in 1999 to promote, coordinate and monitor the fight against doping in sport in all its forms. The Agency is composed and funded equally by the sports movement and governments of the world. Its key activities include scientific research, education, out-of-competition testing, development of anti-doping capacities and monitoring of the World Anti-Doping Code – the first document harmonizing regulations regarding anti-doping in all sports and all countries.