Sacha Buwalda officially becomes FIAS candidate for WADA Athlete Council

The World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) Athlete Council Election Committee has registered Dutch sambo athlete Sacha Buwalda as a candidate for election to the Council. The FIAS Athletes Commission representative is one of 26 nominees representing various International Federations, from which 8 athletes will be selected to form Group 2 of the WADA Athletes' Council for 2025-2027.

Candidates and athletes commissions of International Federations must meet a number of criteria, each of which is detailed in the Election Procedure. In October, the FIAS Athletes Commission unanimously elected Sacha Buwalda, who meets all WADA criteria, as a candidate for the WADA Athletes Council. The members of the FIAS Athletes Commission recognized the great importance of having a qualified advocate – an athlete representing SAMBO – in this key role. The Athletes Council promotes athlete voices on anti-doping issues and is an opportunity to represent athletes on WADA’s governing bodies. Specifically:

• The Council Chair is appointed to the WADA's Executive Committee;

• Two members have seats on the WADA's Foundation Board (at least one representing Paralympic sport);

• The Council is in charge of appointing athlete representatives to other WADA bodies.

The WADA Athletes Council is composed of the following three groups of athlete representatives:

• Group 1: Five athletes appointed by the International Olympic Committee's and International Paralympic Committee's ACs;

• Group 2: Eight athletes elected by IF ACs;

• Group 3: Seven other athletes, selected by an appointment panel made up of a majority of athletes, to fill skills and diversity gaps.

Group 2 election process:

The election will be held virtually via an online voting platform between 10-12 December 2024. Only those IF ACs registered and deemed eligible will be able to vote.

The official list of candidates was communicated directly to all AC Chairs of IFs that are Signatories to the Code. To be eligible to vote in the election, all IF ACs must meet the same criteria as an IF AC nominating a candidate.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is an international organization co-founded by the governments of more than 140 countries and the International Olympic Committee, based in Canada, whose purpose is to promote, coordinate and monitor the fight against doping in sport.

The Agency’s key activities include research, education, anti-doping capacity development and monitoring of the World Anti-Doping Code, which is enforced through the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport.

WADA is responsible for the World Anti-Doping Code, which has been adopted by more than 650 sports organizations, including international sports federations, national anti-doping organizations, the IOC, the International Paralympic Committee and FIAS.