The International Testing Agency (ITA) is an international organisation constituted as a not-for-profit foundation, based in Lausanne, Switzerland. Its mission is to manage anti-doping programs, independent from sporting or political powers, for International Federations (IFs), Major Event Organisers (MEOs) and all other anti-doping organisations requesting support.
We are a fair, transparent and intelligence-led organisation that has the welfare of athletes, the integrity of events and the reputation of sporting bodies at its heart. We gather together subject experts with significant experience in the field to help support the best sporting experience.
We encourage individuals and organisations to work with us to improve their credibility, ensure compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code and its connected standards, develop a collaborative approach to anti-doping, and lead agile and flexible professional anti-doping programs at events where the eyes of the world are watching.
International sport is a competitive environment, where accolades only matter when they have been achieved fairly and within the rules.
Our role is to give everyone involved in sport complete confidence in the systems that keep sport fair. We believe in harmonised testing so that the experience and the handling of the results are the same no matter where athletes compete, and we believe in supporting International Federations and Major Event Organisers and all other entities requesting support to create a level-playing field for their athletes to ensure transparency, accuracy and professionalism.
The ITA is the result of a desire for a united approach to keeping sport clean. As an independent organisation, our job is to support International Federations, Major Event Organisers and other sport and anti-doping organisations to implement independent, state-of-the-art programs. We are well on our way to achieving our vision, as you’ll see from our history so far:
The ITA is the result of a desire for a united approach to keeping sport clean. As an independent organisation, our job is to support International Federations, Major Event Organisers and other sport and anti-doping organisations to implement independent, state-of-the-art programs. We are well on our way to achieving our vision, as you’ll see from our history so far:
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Today
Recommendation 15 of the Olympic Agenda 2020 calls for the protection of clean athletes, noting that novel approaches are needed from all stakeholders.
At the 4th Olympic Summit, it is agreed that a unified approach is needed to ensure anti-doping testing is independent from sports organisations.
A WADA working group is established, composed of representatives from both the Olympic Movement and public authorities.
WADA’s Foundation Board unanimously agrees to explore the proposal by the IOC to make anti-doping independent from sports organisations.
The WADA working group is tasked with outlining an initial feasibility study that would detail how this authority could be set up and run.
In parallel, WADA establishes an ITA Policy Steering Group, consisting of representatives from the world of sports, public authorities and National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs), chaired by Dr. Valérie Fourneyron.
The IOC Session in Rio unanimously supports making anti-doping independent from sports organisations.
WADA’s Foundation Board approves the recommendations of the ITA Policy Steering Group concerning the structure and process of establishing the ITA. In particular, the ITA Policy Steering Group recommends the IOC be the founding body of the ITA.
WADA’s Executive Committee approves the membership of the ITA Foundation Board.
The Doping-Free Sport Unit (DFSU) of the Global Association of International Sport Federations (GAISF) is called upon to form the operational nucleus of the ITA and to operate the anti-doping program at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang.
During the Games, the ITA Foundation Board confirms the appointment of its first Director General.
The ITA becomes fully operational. In October 2018, it manages the anti-doping program for the Buenos Aires 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games.
One year after its operational launch, the ITA pursues a phase of establishment, growth and consolidation. Over 30 anti-doping experts manage clean sport programs for 38 ITA partners.
In preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the ITA establishes a pre-Games Expert Group.
The ITA manages the anti-doping program for Lausanne 2020 and offers clean sport education for the participating athletes through its interactive workshop called ‘Real Sport Lab’.
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) unanimously decides to delegate its anti-doping program to the ITA.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the drop of In-Competition testing due to the cancellation of events, the ITA succeeds to implement 90% of its Out-of-Competition tests, the rest of its programs remain unaffected.
The ITA Cycling Unit managing the entire operational anti-doping program for the cycling disciplines becomes operational.
The ITA has experienced a rapid growth since its operational start, now handling anti-doping programs for almost 50 International Federations and Major Event Organisers, including all Olympic Events. Next to proposing comprehensive anti-doping services, the ITA is engaged in bringing the fight for clean sport to the next level by continuously exploring and developing ways to innovate and by embracing collaborations with relevant stakeholders for the benefit of the whole sports community.
The ITA is the result of a desire for a united approach to keeping sport clean. As an independent organisation, our job is to support International Federations, Major Event Organisers and other sport and anti-doping organisations to implement independent, state-of-the-art programs. We are well on our way to achieving our vision, as you’ll see from our history so far:
