The WADA International Symposium on Foodstuff Residues and Impact on Anti-Doping Analysis in Sport was co-hosted by China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) in Beijing from 18-19 October 2017. Dozens of scientists and experts from WADA, EU, Germany, Australia, Mexico, France, Switzerland and China participated in this symposium.

Mr. LI Yingchuan, the Vice Sport Minister of China attended the opening ceremony of the symposium and extended his welcome to all participants. In his remarks Mr. LI reiterated the Chinese Government’s firm stance against Doping in Sport, and extended his appreciation to WADA for its contribution to global Anti-Doping. He expected a breakthrough in Anti-Doping scientific research with the leadership of WADA.

Mr. CHEN Zhiyu, the Executive Director General of CHINADA spoke at the opening ceremony, and introduced CHINADA’s aim to build a Just, Independent, Professional and Authoritative leading world-class Anti-Doping Organization, as well as CHINADA’s achievements in testing, analysis and education. Mr. CHEN mentioned that China takes food safety for athletes seriously, and that CHINADA is willing to strengthen international cooperation to find a solution by scientific research to protect the legal rights of clean athletes.

In his opening speech, Dr. Olivier Rabin, Senior Executive Director of Science and International Partnerships of WADA said that currently both WADA and world Anti-Doping society are undergoing profound reform. WADA has been improving its laboratory accreditation system with an aim to lift the general level of global doping analysis. Dr. Rabin believed that it is significant for protecting sport integrity and clean athletes to conduct scientific research on food residues and interference with anti-doping analysis.

In the two-day symposium, experts from different international organizations and countries shared their latest scientific research on food residues and doping analysis in this regard. Questions were asked and discussions were held. After the symposium, participants had a better view on the current situation of food residues with doping, researches in this field, and what kind of options we have in the future.

Dr. Rabin applauded for CHINADA’s procedure in dealing with Clenbuterol cases, as well as the educational approaches taken by CHINADA to improve athletes’ awareness towards food contamination in order to reduce doping risks.