FIAS has been a signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code since 2006 and has engaged in the collaboration to further professionalise its clean sport ambitions.

"FIAS is a fully IOC-recognised organisation since 2021, therefore entering into collaboration with International Testing Agency is one of the important steps towards a new era of delivering and professionalising our anti-doping programmes and ensuring the implementation of a high level of anti-doping services," said FIAS chief executive Michal Buchel.

"Partnering with the ITA is the logical and crucial step in ensuring FIAS remains a champion for clean sport all over the world.

"We firmly believe the ITA will ensure the best possible delivery of our anti-doping programmes, and we are looking forward to the journey ahead."

The ITA is set to introduce a four-year education plan starting in 2023 that will be in compliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency International Standard for Education.

It is hoped that the initiative, launched to coincide with International Sambo Day, will raise awareness about doping, support clean sport values and contribute to doping prevention.

To support the programme, the ITA will introduce dedicated education opportunities specifically aimed at sambo athletes.

"I wholeheartedly welcome the decision of FIAS to join the ITA and ensure that sambo athletes benefit from an expert-led, independent and comprehensive anti-doping programme," said ITA director general Benjamin Cohen.

"Our team has extensive knowledge in leading anti-doping operations for combat sports and we will make sure that sambo can benefit from this expertise.

"I am also pleased that in the scope of this new partnership, the ITA will develop and implement a dedicated education plan for sambo starting in 2023 – we strongly believe that anti-doping is not just about testing, but also about protecting athletes through increased awareness that can potentially prevent doping from happening in the first place."