Over 2,000 Attendees Including IOC Chair and WADA President
The '6th World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Conference 2025' will be held from December 2 to 5 at BEXCO in Busan, marking the first time this event takes place in Asia. Hosted by WADA and organized by the Busan Metropolitan Government and the Korea Anti-Doping Agency (KADA), this conference is the largest international event in the sports sector, held every six years.
Major international sports figures will gather in Busan. Attendees include Hwee Young Choi, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea; Lee Seungmin, President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee; Witold Banka, President of WADA; Yang Yang, Vice President of WADA; Kirsty Coventry, Chair of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes' Commission; Thomas Bach, former IOC President; and Emma Terho, Chair of the IOC Athletes' Commission. Heads of international federations such as Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, President of the Badminton World Federation; Nenad Lalovic, President of United World Wrestling; Ingmar De Vos, President of the International Equestrian Federation; David Lappartient, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale; Jean-Christophe Rolland, President of World Rowing; and Petra S?rling, President of the International Table Tennis Federation, will also attend, along with about 20 IOC members. In addition, approximately 30 ministers and vice ministers from sports ministries around the world-including Australia, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Egypt, Estonia, the Vice Minister of Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Deputy Director of the General Administration of Sport of China, and deputy ministers from Greece and the United Arab Emirates-will participate. Kim Yeonkyoung, former volleyball player and KADA Athletes' Commission member, will also serve as an ambassador for the Busan conference.
Over 2,000 participants from 191 countries will attend the conference to discuss the future of fair, doping-free sports. Notably, the conference will finalize revisions to the 'World Anti-Doping Code' and related 'International Standards,' which all international sports federations and national anti-doping organizations must comply with for the next six years starting in 2027. The Anti-Doping Code is a core regulation in international sports that ensures all athletes worldwide can compete fairly under the same standards. The latest amendments focus on strengthening the protection of youth athletes and respecting the operational independence of national anti-doping organizations.
Hwee Young Choi, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism [Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]
On December 1, a pre-conference dinner hosted by Minister Hwee Young Choi will take place at the APEC House in Nurimaru, Haeundae. The official program will begin with the opening ceremony on December 2. Olympic heroes and key international sports figures-including Kirsty Coventry, Olympic swimming gold medalist from Zimbabwe and IOC Athletes' Commission Chair; Yang Yang, short track gold medalist from China and WADA Vice President; Koji Murofushi, hammer throw gold medalist and former Commissioner of the Japan Sports Agency; and Lee Seungmin, table tennis gold medalist and President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee-will attend the opening ceremony. Kim Yeonkyoung, ambassador for the Busan conference, will deliver a special message on sports integrity at the ceremony.
From December 3 to 5, plenary and committee meetings will be held. On December 3, Busan Mayor Park Hyungjun will host a welcome dinner, while on December 4, Vice Minister Kim Daehyun of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Lee Seungmin will host a dinner for IOC members. At the closing ceremony on December 5, the 'Busan Declaration' will be announced, emphasizing sports integrity, athlete protection, and the strengthening of international anti-doping cooperation.
Events for youth are also planned. Emma Terho, IOC Athletes' Commission Chair and Finnish ice hockey player, along with about 15 WADA Athlete Committee members, and KADA Athlete Committee members Kim Yeonkyoung, Won Yunjong, Ki Bobae, Kim Nara, and Kim Donghyun, will visit Busan Physical Education High School and Gyeongnam Girls' Middle School on the morning of December 2 to share the values of fair competition and insights on athletic careers with young aspiring athletes.
Additionally, a Busan cultural tourism program will be offered for conference participants, introducing key attractions such as Haedong Yonggungsa Temple, Gamcheon Culture Village, and the International Market.
Minister Hwee Young Choi stated, "We are extremely proud that Korea will play a central role at this pivotal moment, where athletes, governments, and international sports organizations from around the world gather to set new standards for fair sports," adding, "The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will use this conference as an opportunity to work with other countries to implement more transparent regulations, stronger science, and safer athlete protection."
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