Sports fans deserve better: WADA president

WADA president Craig Reedie says sports fans worldwide want answers following the recent doping and corruption scandals.

Athletes and millions of sports fans worldwide have demanded answers following the spate of doping and governance scandals which have hit sport recently, the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Monday.

WADA president Craig Reedie also called on sponsors to help fund the fight against doping and promised better protection for whistleblowers.

Athletics was rocked last year when Russia was suspended from the sport after a WADA investigation revealed a state-sponsored doping programme and soccer's governing body FIFA was shaken by the worst graft scandal in its history.

Tennis was also hit last week when five-times grand slam champion Maria Sharapova revealed that she had tested positive for the banned substance meldonium.

"The public's confidence in sport was shattered in 2015 like never before, the public mood has soured and there is a general feeling that they're all at it," Reedie told a WADA conference.

"Sport has had its wake-up call. Sport must ensure better governance if public and athletes are to uphold confidence in system."

Reedie complained that WADA was struggling for funding.

"Now is time to look at how we get greater funding for anti-doping," he said. "TV broadcasters and sponsors could help fund clean sport."

"We will continue to work hand in hand with whistleblowers and the media and enhance measures to protect whistleblowers better."


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world