Nicholas Barnes Joins Expert Advisory Group

Nicholas Barnes, Chairman of Drug Free Sport Fiji together with Nick Paterson from Drug Free Sport New Zealand will represent the Oceania region on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2023 National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) Expert Advisory Group.

The Group's purpose is to provide expert advice, recommendations and guidance to WADA's Leadership Team with respect to short term and long-term effectiveness of NADOs, their programs and activities with a regard to promoting effective doping control strategies and plans.

WADA elected 10 members to its 2023 National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) Expert Advisory Group, with two representatives from each continent.

These individuals are officially to take office on January 1, 2023, with two of them then acting as representatives on the WADA Board.

Reforms to the Board to better represent each continent led to the same being done with the NADO Expert Advisory Group.

The election was held from November 1 to 3 on an online voting platform, with only NADOs who are a Signatory to the WADA Code and paid-up members eligible to vote.

A total of 112 of the 115 registered NADOs voted.

"I would like to extend our congratulations to the ten new members of WADA's NADO Expert Advisory Group," said WADA President Witold Bańka.

"The high proportion of NADOs that participated in the election process speaks to what a transformative moment this is for NADO representation within WADA.

"The Agency's governance will be strengthened even further when the Advisory Group selects the two members that will join the Foundation Board next year."

According to the 2019 Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRV) Report, the top five sports with the highest number of ADRVs committed by Athletes were; 1 – Bodybuilding, 2- Athletics, 3 – Cycling, 4 – Weightlifting and 5 – Powerlifting. It also noted the Athlete nationalities with the highest number of ADRV’s, with the top five countries being; 1 – Russia, 2 – Italy, 3 – India, 4 – Brazil and 5 – Iran.  

Drug Free Sport Fiji, established in 2004 is the National Anti-Doping Organisation or NADO for Fiji and is a member of ORADO.

Drug Free Sport Fiji is a Commission of Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) and is the machinery for the implementation of global World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) requirements and regulations at the national level.

‍