Press Release: Funding of the World Anti-Doping Agency

Sports Commissioner Viviane Reding reported back to the Commission on 11 July 2001 on the feasibility of the Community contributing to the operational budget of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The Commission has listed doping in sport as one of its priorities for action and is prepared to support WADA projects which fall within the Community's sphere of competence. However, Mrs Reding felt that the legal and political conditions rule out Community participation in the WADA's operational budget for the time being. It was hoped negotiations with the WADA would begin shortly. In the meantime, the countries of Europe will need to reach agreement on the breakdown of Europe's contribution to the WADA's operational budget as from 2002.