In its ongoing efforts to promote the integrity of Sport and protect the rights of clean athletes, FINA met today in Lausanne (SUI) with USADA (US Anti-Doping Agency) CEO Travis T. Tygart and Science Director Dr. Matthew Fedoruk, and USA Swimming representative Jim Wood for a very productive discussion on this topic. The agenda included items such as the WADA and FINA protocols on anti-doping programmes, communication with National Federations and Athletes, strategies on Athlete Biological Passport, and specific testing plans in advance of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
As with other similar meetings with National Anti-Doping Organisations and FINA National Federations, FINA representatives provided a complete overview regarding the implementation of the FINA Anti-Doping Rules, which are fully compliant with the WADA Code. The meeting was also a privileged occasion to discuss with USADA improved ways of co-operation in the future, in order to intensify mutual efforts in the fight against doping in Aquatics.
More specifically in view of the coming Olympic Games in Rio, enhanced coordination will be aimed at securing that top-athletes of all swimming nations will be subject to efficient, coordinated and comprehensive testing in the months prior to the start of 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
FINA noted that for many years now, the statistics concerning the anti-doping programmes, including the number of tests, cases and decisions of the FINA Doping Panel, are published on the FINA website.
“We are always happy and available to meet with our member Federations and any National Anti-Doping Organisation in order to review all relevant details concerning the essential fight against cheating in our Sport. USADA is a NADO with an impressive and exemplary record in the fight against doping. FINA has long been co-operating with USADA and look forward to continuing our strong collaboration. USA Swimming has a great and talented group of athletes and are therefore also an important FINA partner in this strategy. That is why we praise this kind of meetings and the positive results it brings in terms of transparency and mutual understanding”, considered the FINA Executive Director Cornel Marculescu.
“We were honoured to meet today with FINA leadership and excited by our mutual commitment to do our utmost to ensure the integrity of the sport of Swimming and to continue to work collaboratively to protect clean athletes”, stated Travis T. Tygart.