Paving the Way for Earlier Detection of New Doping Compounds
The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) signed a Joint Declaration on Cooperation in the Fight against Doping in Sport today in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The Declaration was signed by Mr. David Howman, Director General of WADA, and Mr. Haruo Naito, President of the IFPMA and President and CEO of Eisai. The Declaration aims to facilitate voluntary cooperation between WADA and IFPMA member companies, to identify medicinal compounds with doping potential, minimize misuse of medicines still in development, improve the flow of relevant information and facilitate development of detection methods in the context of the fight against doping in sport.
In a written statement, the Hon. John Fahey said: “We are very pleased that the IFPMA will be cooperating actively with WADA in the fight against doping in sport. As soon as a reliable method to detect a particular doping compound in athletes is developed, dopers start looking for a new compound which might enhance performance. Working closely with pharmaceutical companies to identify new potential doping compounds before they enter clinical trials should facilitate much faster development of detection methods, which will benefit clean athletes worldwide.”
Mr. Haruo Naito commented: “IFPMA members recognize that medicines may be misused to enhance sporting performance, thereby creating unfair competition and putting athletes’ health and even lives at risk. With pharmaceutical companies working hand-in-hand with WADA, more resources will be brought to bear on the scourge of doping, leading to cleaner sports and healthier athletes.”
On the pharmaceutical industry side, the Declaration was championed by the IFPMA’s Regulatory Policy and Technical Standards (RPTS) Committee. As with pharmaceutical industry positions on other important issues, the Declaration was specifically reviewed and approved by the regional or national pharmaceutical industry associations covering the European Union (EFPIA), Japan (JPMA) and the USA (PhRMA).
The Declaration has been inspired by a number of successful bilateral collaborative exercises between WADA and individual pharmaceutical companies, including Merck & Co., Inc. and Roche.
Lausanne, 6 July 2010
