GENEVA — The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has invited stakeholders to comment on proposed amendments to two international standards that would clarify the role of host nations' National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) in sample collection at major international events.

The agency announced the proposed changes on Thursday, July 16, saying they are designed to address any potential or perceived conflict of interest that can arise when a host country's anti-doping body is directly involved in testing athletes from its own nation during a major event held on home soil.

Addressing Conflicts of Interest

"To address any potential or perceived conflict of interest or bias with regard to how NADOs may deal with athletes from their same country when directly involved in the delivery of the doping control program at a major international event, it is recommended that event owners, including major event organizers and international federations, ensure roles and responsibilities are clearly defined for the different parties involved in the doping control program," WADA said in a statement.

The concern centres on the scenario in which a national anti-doping body could be responsible for collecting samples from its own country's athletes at an event it is helping to run, an arrangement that critics say could create an appearance of bias, even where none exists. Under the proposed framework, event owners would be expected to more clearly separate and define the responsibilities of the various organisations involved in the doping control program.

Host NADOs Would Retain a Role

WADA stressed that the proposed changes are not intended to exclude host NADOs from major international events held in their own country or region. "NADOs are likely to retain a significant anti-doping role, particularly with respect to intelligence and investigation, coordination with law enforcement," and related functions, the agency said, indicating that host bodies would continue to contribute meaningfully to clean-sport efforts even if their direct role in sample collection is adjusted.

Which Standards Are Affected

The proposed amendments concern the International Standard for Testing and Annex A of the 2027 International Standard for Code Compliance. If adopted, the changes would take effect on January 1, 2027. The consultation invites feedback from stakeholders across the anti-doping community before the amendments are finalised.

The International Standards are among the mandatory frameworks that apply to all signatories of the World Anti-Doping Code, including international federations, major event organisers, national Olympic and Paralympic committees, and national anti-doping organisations. Together they govern how testing, compliance, and doping control are carried out worldwide to ensure consistency across sports and countries.

Part of a Broader Focus on Major Events

The proposal comes as WADA continues to refine how anti-doping is managed at the world's biggest sporting competitions, with a series of major events on the horizon, including the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics and the Salt Lake City 2034 Winter Olympics. At recent Games, such as Milano Cortina 2026, independent bodies including the International Testing Agency have overseen anti-doping operations to help ensure consistent and impartial implementation of the rules, a model that reflects the same underlying goal as the newly proposed amendments: reinforcing the credibility and neutrality of testing at major events.