The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) signed a bilateral agreement with the Norwegian Olympic Committee and Confederation of Sports (NIF), USADA Chief Executive Officer Terry Madden announced Monday, in a move that will strengthen the fight against doping in sport.
The agreement, signed by Madden and NIF’s Acting Director Anne Cappenen, will see that the two organizations cooperate in the field of anti-doping to help create a more ethical international sporting environment. USADA also has bilateral agreements with the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) and Australian Sport Drug Agency (ASDA).
USADA is the independent testing agency for Olympic sports in the United States, and began operations Oct. 1, 2000, with full authority for testing, education, research and adjudication for U.S. Olympic, Pan Am and Paralympic athletes. It is USADA’s responsibility to develop a comprehensive national anti-doping program for the Olympic Movement in the United States.
The bilateral agreement permits the testing of their own and each other’s athletes either by request or at the discretion of the testing party when those athletes are competing, training or living in the other country. In addition, the agreement also provides for a mutual exchange of technology, knowledge and expertise in such areas as testing procedures, athlete services and education.
As a non-profit corporation under the leadership of an independent board of directors, USADA has the authority to set forth guiding principles in anti-doping policy and to enforce any doping violations. In addition to managing collection and testing procedures, USADA is also responsible for enhancing research efforts and promoting educational programs to inform athletes of the rules governing the use of performance enhancing substances, the ethics of doping and its harmful health effects.
Madden feels that NIF’s expertise will be invaluable as USADA further develops its independent and accountable anti-doping program in the United States.
“With the assistance of an outstanding organization like NIF, we are prepared to boost our credible and high quality anti-doping program,” said Madden. “We are looking forward to working together with NIF, which is widely regarded as a standard for national anti-doping organizations.”
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