Elements for the intervention by Gianluca Esposito – Director General for his remarks at the 65th meeting of the Ad Hoc European Committee for the World Anti-Doping Agency (CAHAMA) on 3 September 2024 – 5.30pm – room G03.
- Extremely pleased to meet CAHAMA
- Highlight the importance of Sport for our societies, and for the Council of Europe’s action – as once again demonstrated this summer with the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
- Acknowledge delegations’ commitment: express sincere appreciation for the dedication and contributions of all delegations during meetings and through regular written consultations. Encourage continued commitment to CAHAMA's mission.
- Highlight the constant fight for clean sport: the fight against doping is ongoing, referencing past cases, as well as athletes testing positive during the Paris Olympic Games. Point out the current challenges, including doping-related contamination issues in certain sports, like swimming or tennis.
- Doping defeats the very essence of sport, and cannot be tolerated.
- Reaffirm CoE commitment to clean sport and athletes’ rights: reiterate the CoE’s determination to promote clean sport while safeguarding athletes’ human rights, including data protection, fair procedures, and respect for the rule of law. This is why it is now in DGI – Human Rights and Rule of Law. Highlight the active role of governments in these efforts. The current CAHAMA work on enhancing gender equality in anti-doping is just one concrete example.
- Seize the opportunity with the World Anti-Doping Code Revision: the ongoing revision of the World Anti-Doping Code is a crucial opportunity to reinforce these principles. Encourage Europe to take a leading role and advocate for stronger protections.
- Congratulate the European representatives recommended by CAHAMA for nomination by the Committee of Ministers
- Encourage continued commitment and stress the need for collective action: advancing the cause for clean and fair sport for all athletes requires collective action and shared responsibility. This is why we are here and this is why the CoE constitute an ideal platform for this work.
