Australia’s anti-doping program has been strengthened following the signing of a partnership agreement between Sport Integrity Australia and the Swiss-based International Testing Agency (ITA).
The collaboration and service agreement will see Sport Integrity Australia and the ITA working together on a range of programs and initiatives, including the coordination of the testing of athletes under their respective authority and the sharing of information for athletes under the specific anti-doping authority and on other areas, such as intelligence gathering and sharing.
It will also allow the ITA to appoint Sport Integrity Australia to act as a sample collection authority or provide anti-doping services, in addition to reciprocal access to all relevant Athlete Blood Passport data, Athlete Passport Management Unit reports and test results.
Sport Integrity Australia CEO David Sharpe said the agreement strengthens anti-doping capabilities in Australia and around the world.
“This partnership with the International Testing Agency significantly enhances Sport Integrity Australia’s anti-doping operations and builds on the agency’s existing capabilities,” Mr Sharpe said.
“Sport Integrity Australia is always looking to work with and learn from other anti-doping agencies and to protect innocent athletes. By partnering with other leading global anti-doping agencies like the ITA we are strengthening the testing program for clean athletes in Australia and abroad.”
ITA Director General Benjamin Cohen said collaboration will benefit both potential investigations and intelligence-led doping controls in Australia and for the country’s athletes.
“Sport Integrity Australia is a well-developed and strong integrity agency – in Australia, but also within the larger anti-doping community,” he said.
“Sport Integrity Australia is a progressive and innovative integrity player that inspires us when it comes to learning, sharing knowledge and best practice, and further developing our mutual activities for the benefit of athletes and sport in general. We are very pleased about this cooperation agreement which will help us to ensure better organisation of testing and coordination of any intelligence or investigative activities on Australian soil to help protect Australian and international-level athletes.”
Sport Integrity Australia is the National Anti-Doping Organisation for Australia while the ITA delivers independent expert anti-doping programs for International Federations and major event organisers requesting support with their anti-doping activities.
