KINGSTON, Jamaica— Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia “Babsy” Grange will be travelling to Montreal, Canada this weekend for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Foundation Board Meeting.

The board is WADA’s highest decision-making body. It meets once each year to discuss matters related to the agency’s governance, as well as global anti-doping issues.

WADA’s Executive Committee (ExCo) and Foundation Board (Board) will meet in Montreal, Canada, on November 16 and 17, respectively. During these meetings, members of its principal governing bodies, most of whom will attend in person and others virtually, will discuss issues, take decisions and be updated on a number of matters including an update on the non-compliance status of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency.

Updates on the activities of the Athletes’ Anti-Doping Ombuds and the Human Rights Impact Assessment project, including a report from the Athlete Advisory Group on Human Rights in Anti-Doping and an update on the World Anti-Doping Program consultation process, will also be discussed.

WADA is composed of a 42-member Foundation Board, which is the agency’s highest policy-making body, and the 16-person ExCo, which is delegated by the board to manage the running of the agency, including the performance of activities and the administration of assets.

The ExCo is composed of five representatives from the Sport Movement, five representatives from Governments of the world, the independent Chair of WADA’s Athlete Council and five other independent members, including WADA’s President and Vice-President. Currently, approximately one third of the Board and ExCo members are former international-level athletes.

The ExCo is a closed meeting whereas the Board meeting, as usual and in line with WADA Governance Regulations, will be public forums open to the media. The outcomes of the meetings will be announced in a media release to be published once the board meeting has concluded on November 17.

– Balford Henry