World Anti-Doping Agency announce agreement with Partnership for Clean Competition

WADA have announced an agreement with the Partnership for Clean Competition ©Getty Images

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have announced a multi-year agreement with the Partnership for Clean Competition (PCC) aimed at continuing to fight against drugs in sport.

The agreement will see both organisations administer the creation of two collaborative research funds totalling around $6 million (£4 million/€5.5 million).

A total of $1.5 million (£1 million/€1.4 million) of that will be matched by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as part of the IOC-WADA Anti-Doping Research Fund.

It is hoped the boost in funds will allow WADA to continue to carry out extensive research on new detection methods and to study emerging doping trends.

“Research remains pivotal to the anti-doping efforts practiced by our partners’ right across the world, and so any boost to research that helps us remain at the forefront of doping trends is widely welcomed,” WADA director general David Howman said.

“WADA is pleased to collaborate with the Partnership for Clean Competition so that the rights of clean athletes can be preserved and the integrity of sport upheld.”

WADA director general David Howman hopes the agreement will help continue to protect the integrity of sport ©Getty Images

The PCC was founded in 2008 by the United States Olympic Committee, the National Football League, Major League Baseball and the United States Anti-Doping Agency

The Colorado Springs-based organisation has established itself as a key player in the anti-doping world and they have awarded more than $12 million (£8 million/€11 million) in research grants, and they are still inviting applications from organisations for grants and fellowships.

WADA, led by Britain's Sir Craig Reedie, have injected $60 million (£40.1 million/€55.8 million) into science and social science since 2001.

The agreement represents another step in the direction of ensuring the integrity of sport is thoroughly protected, it is claimed.

The PCC executive director Michael Pearlmutter hailed the partnership as a “great win”.

He added: “This partnership will enable us to support the highest quality international anti-doping research and to implement the results of that research in WADA-accredited labs.

“This is a great win for anti-doping, PCC members, and for our researchers.”