Visit of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Norwegian Anti-Doping Organization (ADNO)

On April 20-21, 2022, representatives of the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Norwegian Anti-Doping Organization visited Georgia. The delegation included: Emiliano Simonelli - head of the legal compliance service of the World Anti-Doping Agency; Olimpia Karavasili - Head of World Anti-Doping Agency Relations with Governments and National Anti-Doping Organizations;Martin Holmland Lawsen - Director of International Relations and Medical Services of the Norwegian Anti-Doping Organization; Esten Alexander Edna - Advisor to the Director of International Relations and Medical Services of the Norwegian Anti-Doping Organization.

The purpose of the visit of the representatives of the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Norwegian Anti-Doping Organization was to draw up the final version of the anti-doping legislation of Georgia, to develop the development strategy of the Georgian Anti-Doping Agency in accordance with the requirements of the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code and the international standard, and to develop the strategy of the World Anti-Doping Agency. Review the audit team's corrective action report.

During two days, the members of the delegation held meetings with the employees and board members of the Georgian Anti-Doping Agency, with the Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth of Georgia Mr. Soso Giorgadze and other representatives of the Ministry.Also, with the vice-president of the National Olympic Committee of Georgia, Nino Salukvadze, and the chairman of the Sports and Youth Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, Mikheil Kavelashvili, and other members of the committee.

At the working meeting, the parties discussed the compliance of the national legislation of Georgia with the World Anti-Doping Code.It was noted that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth will prepare a draft of amendments to the Law "On Sports", which the Parliament will approve by September of this year. Within the framework of the visit, a memorandum was signed between the Norwegian Anti-Doping Organization and the Georgian Anti-Doping Agency through the mediation of the World Anti-Doping Agency,which aims to help in taking into account the remarks and implementing the recommendations presented in the "Final Report of Corrective Actions of the Audit of the Anti-Doping Agency of Georgia".