PRESS RELEASE

THE ITA READY TO LAUNCH INDEPENDENT ANTI-DOPING AND CLEAN SPORT EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR THE WORLD GAMES 2025 IN CHENGDU

The International Testing Agency (ITA) will implement an independent anti-doping and clean sport education program at The World Games 2025, taking place from 7 to 17 August 2025 in Chengdu, People’s Republic of China. The event will bring together athletes from around the world competing in 34 sports, 60 disciplines and 256 medal events.

Following the agreement signed earlier this year with the International World Games Association (IWGA) and the Executive Committee of The World Games 2025 Chengdu, the ITA is responsible for delivering the anti-doping program for the event. This includes Risk Assessment, test distribution planning, sample collection supervision, results management and compliance, Reveal, Long Term Storage and onsite education.

The program is conducted in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and delivered independently from event organisers and sport governing bodies, ensuring neutrality, compliance, and the protection of athlete rights. The ITA is coordinating closely with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) to facilitate efficient and secure anti-doping operations in Chengdu.

A comprehensive risk assessment covering all sports featured in the Games will inform a targeted test distribution plan, designed to ensure a robust and proportionate testing strategy, including in- and out-of-competition testing. In addition, a sample retention plan will be implemented to allow for long-term storage and potential future re-analysis of samples collected before and during the event.

For this edition of The World Games, the ITA will also oversee the results management process, further reinforcing the independence and integrity of the anti-doping framework.

In parallel with testing activities, the ITA will deliver a tailored clean sport education program to engage athletes and their support teams. Key components of the program include:

•  A pre-Games education campaign via digital platforms, sharing key anti-doping information.
• Clean sport education booths located in both athlete villages, staffed by ITA Education Ambassadors – all former international-level athletes – will feature a range of interactive activations, to raise awareness and encourage participation in an open and athlete-friendly environment.

The education activities are designed to support athletes in understanding their rights and responsibilities under the anti-doping rules and to promote a culture of fairness, integrity, and respect for clean sport.

The delivery of the program in Chengdu builds on the ITA’s experience with previous multi-sport events hosted in China, including the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, and the Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025, implemented in collaboration with CHINADA.

Furthermore, 25 of the 34 International Federations participating in The World Games 2025 already collaborate with the ITA on their year-round anti-doping programs. This existing cooperation supports a coordinated and sport-specific approach to testing and program implementation in Chengdu.

The ITA also implemented the anti-doping program for the previous edition of The World Games in Birmingham, USA, in 2022, ensuring continuity and the application of lessons learned in preparation for this next edition.

About the ITA

The International Testing Agency (ITA) is an international organisation constituted as a not-for-profit foundation, based in Lausanne, Switzerland. Its mission is to manage anti-doping programs, independent from sporting or political powers, for International Federations (IFs), Major Event Organisers (MEOs) and all other anti-doping organisations requesting support.

PRESS RELEASE

THE ITA READY TO LAUNCH INDEPENDENT ANTI-DOPING AND CLEAN SPORT EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR THE WORLD GAMES 2025 IN CHENGDU

The International Testing Agency (ITA) will implement an independent anti-doping and clean sport education program at The World Games 2025, taking place from 7 to 17 August 2025 in Chengdu, People’s Republic of China. The event will bring together athletes from around the world competing in 34 sports, 60 disciplines and 256 medal events.

Following the agreement signed earlier this year with the International World Games Association (IWGA) and the Executive Committee of The World Games 2025 Chengdu, the ITA is responsible for delivering the anti-doping program for the event. This includes Risk Assessment, test distribution planning, sample collection supervision, results management and compliance, Reveal, Long Term Storage and onsite education.

The program is conducted in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and delivered independently from event organisers and sport governing bodies, ensuring neutrality, compliance, and the protection of athlete rights. The ITA is coordinating closely with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) to facilitate efficient and secure anti-doping operations in Chengdu.

A comprehensive risk assessment covering all sports featured in the Games will inform a targeted test distribution plan, designed to ensure a robust and proportionate testing strategy, including in- and out-of-competition testing. In addition, a sample retention plan will be implemented to allow for long-term storage and potential future re-analysis of samples collected before and during the event.

For this edition of The World Games, the ITA will also oversee the results management process, further reinforcing the independence and integrity of the anti-doping framework.

In parallel with testing activities, the ITA will deliver a tailored clean sport education program to engage athletes and their support teams. Key components of the program include:

•  A pre-Games education campaign via digital platforms, sharing key anti-doping information.
• Clean sport education booths located in both athlete villages, staffed by ITA Education Ambassadors – all former international-level athletes – will feature a range of interactive activations, to raise awareness and encourage participation in an open and athlete-friendly environment.

The education activities are designed to support athletes in understanding their rights and responsibilities under the anti-doping rules and to promote a culture of fairness, integrity, and respect for clean sport.

The delivery of the program in Chengdu builds on the ITA’s experience with previous multi-sport events hosted in China, including the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, and the Asian Winter Games Harbin 2025, implemented in collaboration with CHINADA.

Furthermore, 25 of the 34 International Federations participating in The World Games 2025 already collaborate with the ITA on their year-round anti-doping programs. This existing cooperation supports a coordinated and sport-specific approach to testing and program implementation in Chengdu.

The ITA also implemented the anti-doping program for the previous edition of The World Games in Birmingham, USA, in 2022, ensuring continuity and the application of lessons learned in preparation for this next edition.

About the ITA

The International Testing Agency (ITA) is an international organisation constituted as a not-for-profit foundation, based in Lausanne, Switzerland. Its mission is to manage anti-doping programs, independent from sporting or political powers, for International Federations (IFs), Major Event Organisers (MEOs) and all other anti-doping organisations requesting support.