– Enough is enough. We are in 2020 and we live in a democracy.

Practitioners and national anti-doping agencies from 14 countries have joined forces in a joint appeal against the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Norway is also demanding change.

This appeal It went around the world at 12 noon on Wednesday. Aftenposten is working to get Wada to speak up.

In the appeal, athlete committees and national anti-doping agencies from major sporting nations such as England, the United States, France and Germany have been signed.

“Enough is enough. We are in 2020 and we live in democracy. Wada must embrace democracy,” they say in a joint statement.

Together, the 14 nations are calling for organizational reform where national anti-doping agencies and professionals have a greater voice.

“As individual organizations, we have repeatedly proposed changes. We are now together to lift our call for greater independence, openness and responsibility at Wada,” he continues.

Solheim: – The goat that fits in the oatmeal sack.

Anti-Doping Norway CEO Anders Solheim is one of those backing the call for WADA reforms. For his part, he says, part of the discontent lies in the fact that on several occasions it has turned out that some of the representatives of the WADA board members have not been trustworthy.

– We want an ethically sound high-level international sport. The WADA board will direct and be responsible for international anti-doping work. Then all members of the board must be trustworthy. We cannot trust people suspected of being involved in fraudulent actions, he says.

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter is one of the WADA Board of Directors. The latest scandal concerns the former president of the International Weightlifting Federation, Tamas Ajan, who among other things is suspected of hiding up to 40 positive doping tests in his federation. Ajan sat on the WADA board of directors until this summer.

– One may wonder why, says Solheim about who holds leadership positions in the highest body of anti-doping work.

– Those who are to supervise, cannot sit simultaneously with other roles that must be supervised. Then you have the goat that fits in the bag of oatmeal, concludes.

Needs independence and representation

Today, Wada is made up of 50% representatives across the Olympic movement and 50% national authorities. In practice, this means that the leaders of special federations and national authorities are responsible for leading international work and WADA oversight of sports and anti-doping activities.

– To clean it up, a distinction must be made between when Wada needs a representative body and when he needs a supervisory body. Those responsible for supervisory activities must be independent and trustworthy, believes Solheim

Independent anti-doping agencies and practitioners today have little or no voice in the organization. Now they want the work of WADA to be better anchored in the professionals and anti-doping agencies.

– I think it is important to distinguish between a broadly representative body and a supervisory body. Supervision must be independent. People with a direct conflict of interest cannot sit there.

Practitioners Committee: – It should be a strong signal

“Wada says they prioritize participation and empowerment of athletes, but have not yet given them the space they deserve,” the appeal says.

Øyvind Watterdal is vice chairman of the athletes committee of the Norwegian Sports Confederation, which has signed the appeal to Wada.

– This should be a strong signal for Wada that this is being done now, says Watterdal to Aftenposten.

He has no problem agreeing to the appeals that are on appeal, and is surprised that Wada on his 38-member Board of Foundations has not found a place for an athlete representative.