Teaser

Intro

Introduction

Interview with WADA President Witold Buńka

Inteview with Ben Sandford and Bronwen Knox

Sign-off

Outro

President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Witold Bańka says the agency is monitoring the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) in the wake of the war in Ukraine.

Speaking on Sport Integrity Australia’s On Side podcast at the WADA Global Education Conference, Bańka said the situation remained very complex.   

“The fact that Russian and Belarussian athletes are not competing in internationally, at least majority of them, some of them they are able to compete as in neutral, but the majority are sanctioned, is very, very complicated,” he said.  

“We decided not to close the open line of communication with RUSADA. The world cannot create a paradise for cheats.”  

WADA’s president believes the anti-doping system is currently working well but acknowledges there is always room for improvement.

 “It's a race, you know. It's a race with the cheats,” he said. “We have to be stronger. We have to be faster. We have to have better tools to eradicate doping from sports. The rules are OK, [the] system works, but we still have to think ‘how we can do more?’”

Bańka also talks about the biggest challenges WADA faces, the role education plays in WADA’s development and balancing their role of catching and punishing versus protecting and supporting.

We also sit down with WADA’s Athlete Committee Chair Ben Sandford and 4 x Olympian and Integrity Manager for Boxing, Judo and Taekwondo Bronwen Knox to discuss the importance of the athlete’s voice.

President of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Witold Bańka says the agency is monitoring the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) in the wake of the war in Ukraine.
Speaking on Sport Integrity Australia’s On Side podcast at the WADA Global Education Conference, Bańka said the situation remained very complex.   
“The fact that Russian and Belarussian athletes are not competing in internationally, at least majority of them, some of them they are able to compete as in neutral, but the majority are sanctioned, is very, very complicated,” he said.  
“We decided not to close the open line of communication with RUSADA. The world cannot create a paradise for cheats.”  
WADA’s president believes the anti-doping system is currently working well but acknowledges there is always room for improvement.
 “It's a race, you know. It's a race with the cheats,” he said. “We have to be stronger. We have to be faster. We have to have better tools to eradicate doping from sports. The rules are OK, [the] system works, but we still have to think ‘how we can do more?’”
Bańka also talks about the biggest challenges WADA faces, the role education plays in WADA’s development and balancing their role of catching and punishing versus protecting and supporting.
We also sit down with WADA’s Athlete Committee Chair Ben Sandford and 4 x Olympian and Integrity Manager for Boxing, Judo and Taekwondo Bronwen Knox to discuss the importance of the athlete’s voice.

The official podcast of Sport Integrity Australia. Our mission is to protect the integrity of sport and the health and welfare of those who participate in Australian sport. Hosted by Tim Gavel, this podcast provides listeners with an opportunity to learn about integrity issues through athletes, coaches and administrators talking about contemporary and historical moments.

The official podcast of Sport Integrity Australia. Our mission is to protect the integrity of sport and the health and welfare of those who participate in Australian sport. Hosted by Tim Gavel, this podcast provides listeners with an opportunity to learn about integrity issues through athletes, coaches and administrators talking about contemporary and historical moments.

The official podcast of Sport Integrity Australia.

On Side

On Side is Sport Integrity Australia's official podcast hosted by sports broadcaster, Tim Gavel. Episodes are released monthly and explore the topic of integrity in sport through conversations with current and former professional athletes, coaches, sport executives, administrators, sport scientists and other expert guests.

On Side is Sport Integrity Australia's official podcast hosted by sports broadcaster, Tim Gavel. Episodes are released monthly and explore the topic of integrity in sport through conversations with current and former professional athletes, coaches, sport executives, administrators, sport scientists and other expert guests.

On this episode we sit down with the president of the World Anti-Doping Agency Witold Bańka, as well as WADA's Athlete Committee Chair Ben Sanford and  4 x Olympian and Integrity Manager for boxing, judo and taekwondo Bronwen Knox.

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