WADA strengthens cooperation with Europol

MONTREAL - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has formally established cooperation with the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement (Europol), it announced on Thursday.

WADA signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Europol, which will build a mutual framework for cooperation between the two agencies in the area of sports doping, the world anti-doping leader said.

The cooperation will enable the two agencies to exchange practical support and share information about the illegal production and distribution of doping substances within the European Union.

"As demonstrated by recent cases involving the International Biathlon Union, Operation Aderlass, the International Weightlifting Federation and the Europol-coordinated Operation VIRIBUS, the sharing of information between law enforcement agencies and anti-doping organizations can be crucial in exposing wrong-doing that would not have been detected through testing or other analytical methods," said WADA president Witold Banka.

WADA had signed similar MOU with INTERPOL in 2009.