WADA and Interpol join forces to combat doping

The collaboration slowly takes shape at a time where the world is facing an increasing problem with organised crime and doping trafficking. Experts have long issued strong appeals to the global regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies to recognise the scale of the illegal doping trade and to step up efforts to combat it.

Wada and Interpol met in early October in Lyon, France, and agreed to identify areas for collaboration. WADA and Interpol also propose to hold a global congress bringing together experts to develop best practice and increase co-operation at all levels. 

Interpol’s Director for specialized crime, Stephen Schmerbeck, stressed that “Interpol is ready to work with our member countries but in order for these efforts to be effective, we need our member countries to share more information with us”.

The mafia controls the doping trade
Experts point out that the doping trade has fallen into the hands of organised crime and has led to the unfortunate and dangerous situation that the doping trade is also connecting with other types of criminal activities. 

Sandro Donati, prominent doping fighter and head of research at the Italian Olympic Committee, argues that the reluctance of governments to address the problem has allowed criminal organisations to move in.

Donati has done research that shows that the market for selling and smuggling illegal substances today is dominated by Russian organised crime in particular. At the Play the Game 2005 conference Donati said that the Russian mafia controls much of the world’s trade in anabolic steroids and he added that the Russian pharmaceutical industry is predominantly controlled by the mafia.

Read Sandro Donati’s conference presentation from Play the Game 2005