Report.az
The Azerbaijani delegation participated in two important meetings of the anti-doping bodies of the Council of Europe held in Strasbourg, France.
According to information provided to "Report" from the Azerbaijan National Anti-Doping Agency (AMADA), government representatives, national anti-doping organizations, and international partners came together at the meetings to discuss the coordination of existing policies, monitoring of compliance, and future directions of anti-doping activities in Europe.
The delegation, led by AMADA Executive Director Tahmina Taghi-zade, also included the Deputy Executive Director of the organization, Rufat Efendiyev, as well as employees of the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The discussions began on March 3 with the 62nd meeting of the Monitoring Group of the Council of Europe Anti-Doping Convention (T-DO). The meeting addressed a wide range of issues related to the implementation of the Convention, including progress observed in member states, cooperation with international partners, as well as progress made within the framework of the T-DO Strategy and the Operational Program for 2024–2027.
Participants also reviewed legal and administrative measures aimed at limiting the availability of doping substances, discussed issues related to children and minors in anti-doping systems, and assessed scientific research on contamination cases. In addition, the Monitoring Group reviewed assessment reports and compliance measures for a number of countries as part of its ongoing monitoring activities.
An important part of the meeting was dedicated to updates on the activities of the Council of Europe's advisory and expert groups. One of them was the progress report of the working group on "Integrating gender equality into anti-doping policy" (T-DO GEMA). This group promotes the integration of a gender equality approach into anti-doping policy, governance structures, and operational activities in Europe.
The discussions continued on March 4–5 with the 70th meeting of the Ad Hoc European Committee for the World Anti-Doping Agency (CAHAMA).
Delegations exchanged views on key issues related to governance in the global anti-doping system, reviewed developments following the WADA Executive Committee and Foundation Board meetings held last December, and discussed Europe's common approach to upcoming agenda items.
One of the highlights of the 70th CAHAMA meeting was the election of the Committee's Chair and Vice-Chair. Based on the results of the vote, Amandine Carton was elected as the Chair of CAHAMA, and Kaarel Nestor was elected as the Vice-Chair.
The meetings in Strasbourg demonstrated once again how important close cooperation between governments, anti-doping organizations and international bodies is in strengthening the fight against doping. By actively participating in these discussions, Azerbaijan continues to contribute to the formation of international anti-doping policy and the promotion of clean and fair sports values.
The results of the Strasbourg meetings will also be discussed at the first WADA European Regional Symposium, which will be held in Baku on March 18–19. This event will bring together leaders in the field of anti-doping from various European countries and serve to strengthen cooperation in the region.
