The opening of the 6th World Conference on Doping in Sport, held in Busan, marked a new turning point for the international community striving to protect the integrity of sport. In front of more than 1,500 delegates from over 140 countries, Kirsty Coventry, double Olympic champion and president of the IOC, issued an urgent call for unity, reminding everyone that protecting athletes is not only a guiding principle but also a shared responsibility. Her words resonated in an audience that, despite its differences, gathered to reflect on the progress made and the challenges that still lie ahead.
Coventry’s message directly addressed the tensions that have shaped recent years within the anti-doping system. The IOC president urged stakeholders to move past divisions, competing agendas, and mutual accusations that only weaken trust in clean sport. Her statements, filled with personal conviction, sought to restore the human dimension of every athlete who competes with genuine effort and places their trust in a fair, transparent, and cohesive system.
The call for unity and shared responsibility
In her opening speech, Coventry emphasized that clean sport is not merely a regulatory framework but a promise to every athlete who dreams of competing on equal terms. She appealed to the need to act as a single global team, committed to ensuring that every decision aligns with the words spoken in defense of integrity. She also stressed that disunity only strengthens those who seek to break the rules while harming those who train and compete honestly.
The IOC president reflected deeply on the symbolic and emotional value of clean sport from her own experience as an athlete. She recalled the feeling of standing at the start line with the confidence of having trained without shortcuts, and the importance of believing that those competing beside her had done the same. That trust, she noted, is the essence that keeps the sporting spirit alive and must be protected through strong collaboration among federations, public authorities, and international organizations. Coventry also urged athletes pressured to dope to report such acts, and called on public authorities to impose real sanctions on those who facilitate these practices, including family members or close circles.
Institutional relations and strengthening of the anti-doping system
During her visit to South Korea, Coventry held a meeting with President Jae Myung Lee, accompanied by representatives of the Olympic Movement in the country. There, she highlighted Korea’s historic role as a strategic ally, recalling the importance of events such as PyeongChang 2018 and the Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon. Her message not only underscored the strong relationship with the host country but also the IOC’s commitment to ongoing collaboration that bolsters the global advancement of sport. The invitation extended to President Lee to attend Milano Cortina 2026 and visit the Olympic House reinforced this institutional bond.
In Busan, Coventry also participated in the Board of Directors meeting of the International Testing Agency (ITA), where Jacques Antenen was appointed the new president, succeeding Dr. Valérie Fourneyron. The IOC president acknowledged Fourneyron’s work since 2018 and emphasized the importance of the ITA’s independence as an institution created to ensure doping controls free from political or sporting pressure. The Agency’s mission, founded by the IOC itself, continues to expand in its work with federations and major events, solidifying its role as a fundamental pillar in the credibility of modern sport.
