February 15, 2012 - The second Regional Anti-Doping Organization (RADO) Conference in Kuwait last month produced a series of outcomes designed to enhance the RADOs’ growing contribution to the fight against doping in sport across the world.

Representatives from the 15 RADOs gathered in Kuwait City for the two-day conference and there was unanimous agreement that a priority should be placed on their continued development.

In order to reach this goal, the RADO representatives produced a series of recommendations that included:

- RADOs to seek official recognition within the World Anti-Doping Code
- Government and National Olympic Committee support is crucial to the RADOs’ success
- Each RADO to be staffed by one full-time officer
- More funding is required to sustain the RADOs
- RADOs should partner SportAccord and International Federations for testing and education programs
- Increased co-operation between the RADOs

To help provide further strategic direction for the RADOs, WADA agreed to set up a RADO Ad-Hoc Working Group consisting of representatives from the different regions.

“It was a very constructive conference which highlighted the significant role played by RADOs and explored ways to develop their role,” said WADA Director General David Howman, who was in Kuwait to deliver a presentation.

“We recognized that the RADOs must continue building relationships at all levels of sport and that they must pool their knowledge and resources when appropriate.

“There is also a need for more funding and staffing, and WADA will continue to assist the RADOs development in any way it can.”

At the end of the conference, WADA Director of Education and Program Development Rob Koehler thanked the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) for supporting the conference and again showing their commitment to drug-free sport.

Mr. Koehler also announced the setting up of the Mahmoud Khalifah Ali Young Investigator Award in recognition of one of the major contributors to anti-doping in Asia.

Each year the award will recognize a masters degree student for their outstanding and innovative social science research in the field of anti-doping.

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