Namibia is currently attending the 2025 World Conference on Doping in Sport in Busan, Korea, to strengthen the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code.
The conference started on 1 December and will run until Friday.
The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture in a statement says the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) officially welcomed participants to the sixth World Conference on Doping in Sport during the event’s opening ceremony.
Representing Namibia are Victoria Katukula, a member country representative, and the ministry’s chief administration officer, Charles Humavindu.
The statement says as nations convene to review and strengthen the World Anti-Doping Code, set to take effect in 2027, their shared objective is clear – safeguarding the integrity of sport and protecting the rights of ‘clean’ athletes worldwide.
The conference serves as a vital platform to listen, learn, and collaborate on the policies and innovations that will shape the future of fair and transparent competition.
“Together, we reaffirm our commitment to clean sport and the values that make it a powerful force for good,” the statement reads.
The conference brings together approximately 1 500 representatives from the global anti-doping community to engage in discussions and usher in a new era for the international anti-doping programme.
The Conference will conclude with the approval of the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards.
In his keynote address, Wada president Witold Banka issued a message of collaboration and unity.
“The Sixth World Conference on Doping in Sport represents a landmark moment for the anti-doping and clean sport communities.
“It is evidence of what can be achieved when we work collaboratively. In today’s world, unity feels increasingly fragile but sport remains a source of hope that still brings people together across borders, cultures and beliefs,” he says.
He adds: “But only clean sport. The value of an athlete is not found in medals, but rather in integrity. Clean sport is not just about fair play, it is about character, resilience, humility, and honesty.”
Banka says clean sport is all about dignity, which is why the conference matters, and why the joint missions matter.
“The historic event reminds us of the importance of remaining united by responsibility. No matter how complex the world becomes, the values of clean sport will endure, because we cannot let them fail.”
He said the world conference is the first step in reaching the goals to ensure all athletes are provided with a level playing field, and that clean sport is robustly protected.
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