UNI World Players, a sector of UNI Global Union, has released the second edition of its Best Practice Improvements to Anti-Doping Programs(Best Practices), the adoption of which would stop ongoing harm to athlete rights and resolve most cases of injustice under the Code. The ongoing WADA Code Review process presents a critical opportunity to embed these best practices, which is essential if WADA is to rebuild athlete trust and confidence in the global anti-doping effort.<\/p>\r\n
Across the world, player associations, in partnership with leagues and governing bodies, have negotiated, implemented and rigorously enforced Best Practices that are more proportionate, rights-respecting and effective than anti-doping measures mandated by WADA. These collectively bargained models prioritize education, player welfare and due process while maintaining the integrity of competition.<\/p>\r\n
This second edition of the Best Practice<\/em>s <\/em>builds upon these real-world approaches and introduces new, evidence-based reforms in key areas, including:<\/p>\r\n Matthew Graham, Head of UNI World Players, emphasized the urgency of reform:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n “For too long, the global anti-doping system has prioritized enforcement over fairness, often at the expense of athletes\u2019 rights. The reality is that some of the best anti-doping models in the world are those that have been collectively bargained between player associations and their leagues. These frameworks strike the right balance between integrity and fairness – yet WADA continues to disregard them. The ongoing Code Review is a chance for WADA to catch up, to listen and to build an anti-doping system that athletes believe in rather than endure.”<\/em><\/p>\r\n Ahmad Nassar, Executive Director of the Professional Tennis Players Association, said:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n “The current anti-doping system is built to foot-fault athletes rather than catch real dopers. Instead of enforcing arbitrary\u00a0<\/em>measures, we need a system grounded in fairness, due process and real-world effectiveness. The best anti-doping models are those that have been collectively bargained – where players and <\/em>their counterparts\u00a0work together to uphold integrity while respecting athletes\u2019 rights. WADA must\u00a0<\/em>embrace\u00a0these Best Practices<\/em>\u00a0and stop needlessly accepting the reputations and livelihoods of athletes as collateral damage in the fight against doping.”<\/em><\/p>\r\n Steph Bond, Legal & Policy Manager of the World Cricketers\u2019 Association, said:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n \u201cIt is without doubt that the current WADA system is not fit for purpose. The lack of engagement with athletes, including the right to collectively bargain the Code, results in unfair practices, disproportionate penalties and a complete mistrust of the system. Of particular concern is WADA’s flawed system for known contaminants and the nonsensical inclusion of recreational drugs.\u00a0 Unfortunately, we are increasingly seeing the reputations, careers and livelihoods of athletes becoming collateral damage because of these failures in the system.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\r\n UNI World Players, and its affiliates across the world\u2019s major sports, remain committed to ensuring anti-doping policy is reformed in a way that is not only effective but also just. WADA and all stakeholders in the anti-doping community must act, through the adoption and implementation of these Best Practices<\/em>, to ensure that the new Code reflects the realities, rights and interests of the athletes it seeks to protect.<\/p>\r\n -ENDS-<\/p>\r\n For more information, please contact Leonie Guguen, Senior Communications Manager, UNI Global Union. Tel: +41 79 137 5436 or Email: leonie.guguen@uniglobalunion.org<\/p>\r\n UNI World Players, part of UNI Global Union, is the exclusive global voice of organized players and athletes across professional sport. It brings together 85,000 players through more than 100 player associations in over 60 countries. Its role is to ensure that the voice of organized players is heard at the highest levels in the decision-making of international sport.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" UNI World Players, a sector of UNI Global Union, has released the second edition of its Best Practice Improvements to Anti-Doping Programs(Best Practices), the adoption of which would stop ongoing harm to athlete rights and resolve most cases of injustice under the Code. The ongoing WADA Code Review process presents a critical opportunity to embed<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":27329,"template":"","categories":[],"global-issues":[],"sectors":[20],"cross-sector-groups":[],"workers-rights":[],"regions":[],"topics":[],"class_list":["post-27328","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","sectors-world-players"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\r\n\t