Web Desk :
The International Testing Agency (ITA) will deploy a force of 260 staff to implement the
anti-doping programme at the European Games Kraków-Małopolska 2023.
Fair play will be upheld and clean sport on show in Poland thanks to the collaboration
between the ITA, implementing partner Polish Anti-Doping Agency (POLADA) and with the
support of the Local Organising Committee.
The European Olympic Committees (EOC) signed an agreement in 2021 entrusting the ITA
with operating the clean sport programme at the European Games, European Youth
Olympic Festivals and the Games of the Small States of Europe.
Fifty seven ITA-certified doping control officers will take more than 1200 samples during
the European Games, with over 30 doping control stations be in place at the 25 venues and
in the athletes’ village.
The samples collected will be analysed at World Anti-Doping Agency accredited
laboratories in Warsaw and Cologne, Germany, and EOC Secretary General Raffaele
Pagnozzi expressed his confidence in the ITA’s stringent programme.
Mr Pagnozzi said: “The EOC has entrusted the management of anti-doping for its sports
events to the ITA on the principle that anti-doping needs to be managed totally
independently from the event organisers. We have further ensured the rights of athletes
to fair judgement by entrusting the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s Anti-Doping Division
with the adjudication of alleged anti-doping rules violations and eventual sanctions.
“Ensuring that the European Games Kraków-Małopolska 2023 are clean and fair for all
athletes has driven our work with the ITA. We thank them, POLADA and the Organising
Committee for their continued cooperation and we are confident that the procedures put
in place will stop any athlete who wishes to use prohibited substances from doing so.”
Benjamin Cohen, Director General of the ITA, said: “The ITA is proud to lead the
independent anti-doping programme for the Krakow-Małopolska 2023 European Games.
Our unwavering commitment to upholding the concept of fair play will ensure that
athletes competing in these Games can perform at their best with confidence, knowing
that the best efforts will be made to uphold the integrity of the sport.
“We thank the EOC for entrusting the ITA with this important task, and the Organising
Committee for their support. We also thank POLADA for the excellent collaboration during
the months leading up to the event and we look forward to jointly executing the clean
sport program for Kraków-Małopolska 2023.
“We are also pleased that through the ITA’s overarching work for the EOC and the
International Olympic Committee (IOC), we have been able to foster opportunities for
learning and knowledge transfer within the anti-doping community. For example, staff
from the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) will work with us at the European Games in
preparation for the work that awaits us next summer for the 2024 Olympic Games in
Paris.”
POLADA Director Michał Rynkowski said: “The work at the European Games has an
international dimension, but also a very national one. The Games take place in Poland and
for us to be responsible for sample collection in our own country at such a major sporting
event is an honour. Every doping control officer, every volunteer and all POLADA
employees were properly trained, know their tasks and responsibilities and are ready to
start testing.
“We would like to thank the representatives of the ITA who helped us in our preparations
before the European Games. We are proud to be able to take care of clean sport
together.”
