Sport24.az
This week, a delegation from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) visited Azerbaijan. Sport24.az reports with reference to the AMADA press service that the purpose of the visit was to familiarize themselves with the preparations for the WADA European Regional Symposium to be held in Baku on March 18-19, 2026.
The symposium will be jointly organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Azerbaijan National Anti-Doping Agency (AMADA).
WADA will hold four Regional Symposiums in 2026, and the European event will be held in Baku. These symposiums will be organized to take into account the needs and challenges of regional partners in preparation for the implementation of the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards. The new Code and standards will be approved at the World Conference on Doping in Sport to be held in Busan, Republic of Korea in December 2025 and will come into force on January 1, 2027.
The WADA delegation included Sebastien Gillot, Director of the European Office of the supreme anti-doping body and the Department of Relations with the Sports Movement, and Riziero Pisani, Event Management Manager. The delegation inspected the venue for the symposium and other infrastructure facilities in Baku.
Sebastien Gillot noted that the preparations are being carried out at a high level and in accordance with the agreed plan. He emphasized that holding the European Regional Symposium in Baku in 2026 will be a significant event for both WADA and the Azerbaijani sports community.
Riziero Pisani noted that the symposium, held on the eve of the 10th anniversary of AMADA's activity, demonstrates the Agency's long-term cooperation with WADA and its commitment to strengthening anti-doping initiatives in the region. The delegation highly appreciated AMADA's role in organizing the symposium and especially emphasized Azerbaijan's ability to organize international events professionally and perfectly.
