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Defining the Standards of Fair Play in Sports: 2025 World Anti-Doping Agency Conference Held in Busan

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Busan Metropolitan City announced that the 2025 World Anti-Doping Agency Conference (hereinafter "the Conference") will be held in Busan—Asia’s first global hub city to host the event—for five days from December 1 to December 5. The Conference is co-organized by the City of Busan and the Korea Anti-Doping Agency (KADA), chaired by Yang Yun-joon, and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Minister Choi Hwi-young).

This year’s Conference will bring together approximately 2,000 participants from 191 countries, including government representatives, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), international sports federations, and national anti-doping organizations. They will engage in discussions aimed at producing the “Busan Declaration,” which will shape the revision of the World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards.

WADA President Witold Bańka; IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair Kirsty Coventry; former IOC President Thomas Bach; Minister Choi Hwi-young; high-level government officials in sports from various countries; representatives of multiple international sports federations; and Yoo Seung-min, President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, are among the prominent domestic and international figures scheduled to attend.

The Conference will address amendments to the World Anti-Doping Code—an overarching international regulation that governs compliance for international sports bodies and national anti-doping agencies for six years from 2027—and revisions to the International Standards, the technical and operational guidelines that ensure consistent global implementation.

Central to the event will be discussions to reaffirm the international community’s commitment to anti-doping and define future policy directions through the “Busan Declaration.”

During the Conference, a series of meetings and official events will be held primarily at BEXCO in Busan, where the final confirmation sessions for the Code and Standards will take place.

• ●Plenary Sessions: All participants will gather from December 1 to 5 to discuss the strategic direction of the Code, alongside committee-level meetings such as those of the Athletes’ Committee and the Government Meeting.

• ●Official Events: The program begins with a pre-conference dinner hosted by Minister Choi Hwi-young at Nurimaru APEC House, followed by the Opening Ceremony (December 1–2), a Welcome Dinner hosted by Mayor Park Heong-joon (December 3), and the Closing Ceremony (December 5). The Closing Ceremony will also unveil the “Busan Declaration,” capturing the shared commitment to fair play, athlete protection, and strengthened international cooperation in anti-doping.

In addition, on December 2 at 10 a.m., mentoring programs will be held at schools in Busan, featuring Olympic and Paralympic medalists from WADA and KADA.

• ●At Busan Sports High School, Emma Terho, Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission and a Finnish ice hockey athlete, will visit alongside five WADA Athlete Committee members and KADA athlete representatives Kim Nara, Hong Seok-man, Won Yoon-jong, and Ki Bo-bae. They will engage student-athletes through anti-doping quizzes, VR-based interactive activities, and discussions on the importance of clean sport.

• ●At Gyeongnam Girls’ Middle School, KADA Athlete Committee member and Conference ambassador Kim Yeon-koung will visit the school’s volleyball team to provide anti-doping education and training guidance.

Additionally, leading Korean food and beverage companies—Dong-A Otsuka, Meogeobon, Samjin Fishcake, Idaemyung, and Golden Blue—will participate as official sponsors.

• ●Dong-A Otsuka will provide Pocari Sweat, Oronamin C, and carbonated water, including The Moshinda (THE).

• ●Meogeobon will offer its low-sugar protein almond snacks; Samjin Fishcake will provide its roasted fish jerky snacks; Idaemyung will share its traditionally baked crackers; and Golden Blue will present its fermented mushroom liquor Cheonnyeonyakssok.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “This Conference will once again affirm the elevated status of Busan as a global sports hub and a premier MICE destination. After the event, Busan will stand at the forefront of global anti-doping governance, further spreading the values of fair play and promoting follow-up initiatives to strengthen international cooperation.”