FINA has signed today an anti-doping service agreement with ITA, the International Testing Agency, a non-for-profit foundation which provides independent expert anti-doping services.
The ceremony was held at the conclusion of the “Anti-Doping – Ensuring fair play in Aquatics” topic at the FINA World Aquatics Convention, being held in Hangzhou (CHN), from December 8-10. Benjamin Cohen, ITA’s Director General, was one of the speakers in that panel and then signed the agreement with FINA President Dr Julio C. Maglione.
“FINA is very pleased with this partnership. Our International Federation is at the forefront of the fight against doping, and our co-operation with ITA will reinforce our strength and leadership in this area. Together, we will decisively be stronger in this continuous war against cheaters in our Sport”, considered Dr Maglione.
“The ITA is honoured to have been entrusted with the management of several areas of FINA’s anti-doping programme. We look forward to this partnership and the ITA will will work hard, in close co-operation with FINA, to ensure that the Sport of Aquatics and its athletes are clean”, Mr Cohen said.
Within this agreement, FINA will keep under its scope the in-competition testing at FINA events, while ITA will be responsible for the out-of competition procedure and the biological passport programme.