4 September 2025, 13:00-17:30 CEST
Online Event (Live + On-demand Access)

PROGRAM

13:00

Opening Remarks

Benjamin Cohen | Director General, ITA

13:10

An Athlete's Personal Story:
"You are the Reason I'm Here"

An inspiring personal account of an athlete’s journey in clean sport and the impact of DCOs and BCOs on integrity in sport through her eyes. 
Christine Girard OLY

13:30

Recent Updates for DCOs & BCOs
in Global Anti-Doping Regulations

13:50

Practical Challenges: Stories from the Field

A panel discussion on real-life scenarios, such as navigating cultural differences, sample collection in remote locations and dealing with challenging athletes. Emphasis on practical solutions and lessons learned.
Rob Ingall |  DCO (AUS)
Luana Cristina Dos Santos Held |  DCO (GER/BRA)
Andrew Bell |  DCO (GBR/CAN)
Ludwig Johannesen |  DCO (GER)

 14:20

Behind the Scenes: Delivering Doping Control at Major Events

Anti-doping at a Major Event is often invisible when it works, but behind the scenes is a complex, human-powered system of planning, logistics and communications. This session opens the lid on that machine, exploring what it really takes to deliver doping control under pressure. Drawing on lessons from Paris 2024, insights from international competitions and a look ahead to Milano Cortina 2026, we will walk through the moving parts, from rules and infrastructure to real-world improvisation, and show how it all holds together when the unexpected strikes.
Sophie Berwick | Major Events Specialist, ITA
Vanessa Webb | Senior Major Events Manager, ITA
Wendy Henderson | ITA IDCO Trainer, ITA

14:40

Break

14:55

What is a Valid and Representative Anti-Doping Sample?: The Impact of the DCO/BCO on Analytical Quality

Understanding how sample collection impacts laboratory analysis and results - and what could go wrong.
Dr Tiia Kuuranne | Director, Swiss Laboratory for Doping Control Analyses

 15:15

Technological Innovations: Transforming Doping Control

A discussion on new cutting-edge technologies for targeted testing and their implications for DCOs and BCOs.
Dr Louisa Lobigs | Science & Medical Manager, ITA

15:30

Investigative Techniques in Anti-Doping:
The role of DCOs in information gathering and investigation support

This session will outline how specially trained DCOs could be involved in investigative techniques and information gathering in anti-doping. We will explore their training, a few mission case studies, the outcomes and the challenges.
Michel Alov | Intelligence Officer, ITA

 15:45

Athlete Safeguarding During Doping Control: Ensuring Safety and Respect

The session will provide DCOs and BCOs with guidance on supporting athlete welfare during testing, including recognising and reporting safeguarding concerns and being mindful of vulnerable individuals, such as minors.
IOC Safeguarding Officer in Sport Certified Expert

16:05

Break

16:20

From the Cockpit to the Doping Control Station: What could Anti-Doping Learn from Aviation?

This session explores how principles from the aviation industry such as crew resource management, standard operating procedures, threat and error management and a just safety culture could inform and strengthen anti-doping practices, potentially improving consistency, reducing errors and enhancing the athlete and DCO experience.
Richard Driscoll MBE | commercial pilot and ITA IDCO Trainer

16:40

Upholding Integrity in Athlete Interactions

Through thought-provoking discussion and real-world examples, you will be encouraged to reflect on your own practices, consider best practice on the field and understand the importance of consistency in athlete communication. By the end, you will be better equipped to maintain the highest standards of integrity in every athlete interaction.
Adele Weekes | National Training Coordinator, Sport Integrity Australia (SIA)

16:55

Collaboration Across Borders: Building a Cohesive Global Anti-Doping Network

This session brings together a panel of experts and practitioners to explore how administrators and Sample Collection Personnel can collaborate across borders to strengthen global testing efforts. Through discussions and audience engagement, we will share practical experiences, challenges and strategies for building a more connected and consistent anti-doping network.
Deslyn Pather | Senior Doping Control Coordinator,
South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS)
Mbali Moroe | DCO (RSA)
Thomas Moschner | DCO (GER) 
Billy Gannon | DCO (CAN)

17:25

Closing Session

Dr Mark Stuart | ITA Forum Chair

* All times are listed in CEST, Switzerland.

* The program is subject to change.

MEET OUR SPEAKERS

Mr Benjamin Cohen | Director General, ITA

Before being unanimously appointed as Director General of the International Testing Agency (ITA) by the Board of ITA in February 2018, Benjamin Cohen held the position of Director of the European Office & International Federation Relations at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Prior to joining WADA, Benjamin held various roles in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) as the Head of Governance and Legal Affairs, in the United Nations Office of Sport for Development and Peace in New York, the Council of Europe and within the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). He teaches Sports Governance, Dispute Resolution and Anti-Doping at several universities worldwide and is regularly appointed as a guest speaker and legal and governance expert in task forces and commissions at the United Nations, the European Commission, the Council of Europe, the IOC and International Federations.

Sophie Berwick | Major Events Specialist, ITA

Sophie is a Major Event Specialist at the ITA, where she leads anti-doping planning, strategy, partnerships with stakeholders and Games-time readiness. She has held operational leadership roles across multiple Olympic and international events, bringing expertise in translating anti-doping protocols into real-world delivery.

Vanessa Webb | Senior Major Events Manager, ITA

As the Senior Major Events Manager at the ITA, Vanessa has over 20 years of anti-doping experience and is a key architect of anti-doping operations for major sporting events. Drawing on her knowledge of project management and logistics, she leads on the end-to-end design of anti-doping programs, from initial planning through to on-the-ground implementation.

Wendy Henderson | Director General, ITA

As an experienced International Doping Control Officer (IDCO), Wendy has led field operations at numerous Olympic and international events. As part of the ITA’s IDCO Training Team and a long-time DCO trainer, she offers firsthand insight into delivering on-the-ground sample collection under intense and real-time pressure.

Dr Tiia Kuuranne / Lausanne Laboratory
Tiia Kuranne holds a PhD from the University of Helsinki, where her research focused on the phase-II metabolism of anabolic steroids and LC-MS detection. She also serves as a docent at the University of Lausanne. Prior to 2016, she was the scientific director of the WADA-accredited laboratory in Helsinki. Since then, she has been the director of the Lausanne laboratory and the Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU). She has been actively involved in several WADA working groups, including the Steroids in Blood group and the Laboratory Expert Advisory group. She has also served as president of the World Association of AntiDoping Scientists (WAADS) and is the editor of the Drug Testing and Analysis journal.
Dr Louisa Lobigs / ITA Science & Medical

Louisa is ABP Manager at the ITA since 2022 and has been involved in the fight against doping since 2013. Louisa has a Bachelors in Medical Science from the Australian National University, Honors in Sports Science from the University of Canberra, and a PhD from the University of Western Australia. Louisa’s PhD was focused on plasma volume as a confounding factor of the ABP Hematological Module. Between 2012 to 2015 Louisa worked in the Hematology and Biochemistry laboratory at the Australian Institute of Sport, and the research department of Aspetar Sports Medicine Hospital in Qatar. In both institutes she was involved in numerous Anti-Doping research studies. Louisa has also competed as an elite  cyclist with the Australian Nation Team in Europe and America

Mr Benjamin Cohen / Director General, ITA

Before being unanimously appointed as Director General of the International Testing Agency (ITA) by the Board of ITA in February 2018, Benjamin Cohen held the position of Director of the European Office & International Federation Relations at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Prior to joining WADA, Benjamin held various roles in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) as the Head of Governance and Legal Affairs, in the United Nations Office of Sport for Development and Peace in New York, the Council of Europe and within the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). He teaches Sports Governance, Dispute Resolution and Anti-Doping at several universities worldwide and is regularly appointed as a guest speaker and legal and governance expert in task forces and commissions at the United Nations, the European Commission, the Council of Europe, the IOC and International Federations.

Mr Benjamin Cohen / Director General

Before being unanimously appointed as Director General of the International Testing Agency (ITA) by the Board of ITA in February 2018, Benjamin Cohen held the position of Director of the European Office & International Federation Relations at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Prior to joining WADA, Benjamin held various roles in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) as the Head of Governance and Legal Affairs, in the United Nations Office of Sport for Development and Peace in New York, the Council of Europe and within the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). He teaches Sports Governance, Dispute Resolution and Anti-Doping at several universities worldwide and is regularly appointed as a guest speaker and legal and governance expert in task forces and commissions at the United Nations, the European Commission, the Council of Europe, the IOC and International Federations.

Richard Driscoll MBE | commercial pilot and ITA IDCO Trainer

A DCO for 35 years and an airline pilot for 22 years, Richard has attended both the Winter and Summer Olympic Games, many international events and worked as a delegate for Athletics and World Rugby. As a commercial pilot, he has flown both long-haul and short-haul aircraft. As part of the ITA IDCO Training Team, he trains both new and existing doping control personnel. His extensive experience in both industries makes him well-placed to consider some of the similarities and learning points between aviation and doping control.

Ms Deslyn Pather / Senior Doping Control Co-ordinator, SAIDS

Deslyn Pather is the Senior Doping Control Coordinator at the South African Institute for Drug Free Sport (SAIDS). She has close to 10 years of experience in sports management and anti-doping. Her experience includes implementing a national test distribution plan, conducting training sessions for sample collection personnel across African countries and induction training on the anti-doping responsibilities of elite athletes in the Registered Testing Pool (RTP) program. Deslyn’s administrative skills have seen her manage and administer the doping control services at numerous international sports events in South Africa. She was a key member of the doping control administration at the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Ms Adele Weekes / Training Coordinator Doping Control, SIA

As  the National Training Coordinator at Sport Integrity Australia (SIA), Adele Weekes oversees the training and accreditation of over 200 Sport Integrity Australia Sample Collection Personnel. She developed the Sample Collection Manual for the new agency and has been a driving force in using technology to provide additional support tools for our Field Staff, including online exams and regular virtual meetings. Her role assists with the delivery of a compliant and effective Sample Collection Process.

Our teachers

Meet our core team

An Athlete's Personal Story: "You are the Reason I'm Here"

Christine Girard

ITA Ambassador 
OLY
Practical Challenges: Stories from the Field

Rob Ingall

DCO (AUS)
Rob has been a DCO since 2012 and is also a trained BCO. He has completed more than 7,000 individual sample collections, both OOC and IC, testing Junior to Elite level athletes, including para athletes, in over 100 different sports. 

Luana Cristina Dos Santos Held

DCO, (GER/BRA)
Luana is a former professional swimmer, who started working as a DCO in 2008. She has worked for NADOs and private SCAs and tested athletes in a variety of sports. She also acted as Doping Control Station Manager at the Olympic Games Rio 2016 and Paris 2024.

Andrew Bell 

DCO, (GBR/CAN)
Andrew started his career with UK Anti-Doping before moving to Canada and joining the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport. Now, with 18 years of experience in Doping Control, Andrew has built a depth of international experience at Major Events, including three Olympic Games, gaining insight as a Chaperone Team Leader at London 2012, Processing DCO at Tokyo 2020 and most recently as Village Doping Control Station Manager at Paris 2024.

Ludwig Johannesen

dco, (GER)
Ludwig has been a DCO since 2008, testing both IC and OOC. He started his career as a UCI International MTB Commissaire, in which capacity he served at several world cups and championships, as well as the Olympic Games Paris 2024. He has worked at a private SCA and now is part of the ITA's Testing Force.
Behind the Scenes: Delivering Doping Control at Major Events

Sophie Berwick

Major Events Specialist, ITA
Sophie is a Major Event Specialist at the ITA, where she leads anti-doping planning, strategy, partnerships with stakeholders and Games-time readiness. She has held operational leadership roles across multiple Olympic and international events, bringing expertise in translating anti-doping protocols into real-world delivery.

Vanessa Webb

Senior Major Events Manager, ITA
As the Senior Major Events Manager at the ITA, Vanessa has over 20 years of anti-doping experience and is a key architect of anti-doping operations for major sporting events. Drawing on her knowledge of project management and logistics, she leads on the end-to-end design of anti-doping programs, from initial planning through to on-the-ground implementation.

Wendy Henderson

ITA IDCO Trainer, ITA
As an experienced International Doping Control Officer (IDCO), Wendy has led field operations at numerous Olympic and international events. As part of the ITA’s IDCO Training Team and a long-time DCO trainer, she offers firsthand insight into delivering on-the-ground sample collection under intense and real-time pressure.
What is a Valid and Representative Anti-Doping Sample?: The Impact of the DCO/BCO on Analytical Quality

Tiia Kuuranne

Director, Swiss Laboratory for Doping Control Analyses
Dr Kuuranne is director of the Swiss Laboratory for Doping Analysis and its Athlete Biological Passport Management Unit (APMU) in Lausanne since 2016. Tiia Kuuranne graduated from the University of Helsinki (PhD in 2003), where she holds a position of Academic Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Her academic publications and co-authored papers are mainly related to mass spectrometric techniques and applications, enzyme-assisted synthesis of drug metabolites, athlete biological passports and general aspects of doping control. Dr Kuuranne has served as president of the World Association of Anti-Doping Scientists (WAADS; 2020-2023), represented laboratories as a member of several WADA working groups and Laboratory Expert Advisory group (2013-2022), and she has been Associate Editor of the Drug Testing and Analysis journal since 2009.
Technological Innovations: Transforming Doping Control

Louisa Lobigs

Science & Medical Manager, ITA
Louisa is Science & Medical ABP Manager at the ITA since 2022 and has been involved in the fight against doping since 2013. Louisa has a Bachelors in Medical Science from the Australian National University, Honors in Sports Science from the University of Canberra and a PhD from the University of Western Australia. Louisa’s PhD was focused on plasma volume as a confounding factor of the ABP Hematological Module. Between 2012 to 2015, Louisa worked in the Hematology and Biochemistry laboratory at the Australian Institute of Sport and the research department of Aspetar Sports Medicine Hospital in Qatar. In both institutes, she was involved in numerous anti-doping research studies. Louisa has also competed as an elite cyclist with the Australian Nation Team in Europe and America.
Investigative Techniques in Anti-Doping: The role of DCOs in information gathering and investigation support

Michel Alov

Intelligence Officer, ITA
Michel joined the International Testing Agency in 2023, after working as a law enforcement officer in various roles for over 12 years. Since then, his focus has been to plan, collect, process and disseminate information linked to potential ADRVs, especially those related to Cycling, in conjunction with several other departments (Testing, Sciences and Medical, Legal and Education). During this time, he assumed the role of Point of Contact for DCOs operating in Cycling and had the opportunity to train numerous DCOs, providing them with skillsets that would enhance their capacity to gather information and help anti-doping organisations Keep Sport Clean.
Athlete Safeguarding During Doping Control: Ensuring Safety and Respect
From the Cockpit to the Doping Control Station: What could Anti-Doping Learn from Aviation?

Richard Driscoll MBE

commercial pilot and ITA IDCO Trainer
A DCO for 35 years and a commercial pilot for 22 years, Richard has attended both the Winter and Summer Olympic Games, many international events and worked as a delegate for Athletics and World Rugby. As a pilot, he has flown both long-haul and short-haul aircraft. As part of the ITA IDCO Training Team, he trains both new and existing doping control personnel. His extensive experience in both industries makes him well-placed to consider some of the similarities and learning points between aviation and doping control.
Upholding Integrity in Athlete Interactions

Adele Weekes

National Training Coordinator, Sport Integrity Australia (SIA)
Adele Weekes is Anti-Doping Testing Training Manager at Sport Integrity Australia, responsible for the training, accreditation and ongoing development of SIA’s Sample Collection Personnel (around 180 SCP across the country).
She is currently working in the SIA International Engagement Team to support the implementation of the Pacific Engagement strategy, by engaging and collaborating with countries in the Pacific region, to build sports integrity capability.
Collaboration Across Borders: Building a Cohesive Global Anti-Doping Network

Deslyn Pather

Senior Doping Control Coordinator,
South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS)
Deslyn is Senior Doping Control Coordinator at the South African Institute for Drug Free Sport (SAIDS). A Sport Management graduate with 14 years of experience in National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) operations, her technical knowledge of the WADA Code and International Standards has allowed Deslyn to assist numerous burgeoning NADOs and RADOs in Africa in establishing and implement doping control operations. Her administrative skills have seen her manage and administer the doping control services at numerous international sports events in South Africa. Deslyn was a key member of the doping control administration at the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, 2022 Sevens Rugby World Cup and 2023 Netball World Cup, among other international sports events. She currently serves as an iNADO Board Member and a member of the ITA IDCO Expert Advisory Committee. Deslyn is committed to sharing her knowledge and expertise with NADOs on achieving operational efficiencies within the framework of the Code and International Standards.

Mbali Moroe

dco, (RSA)
Mbali is an experienced Doping Control Officer with over 20 years of expertise in anti-doping operations, including 5 years as a Doping Control Coordinator at the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport and 15 years as a full-time Doping Control Officer. Mbali has acted as Doping Control Station Manager at major international events such as the Junior Olympics and Paralympics, at the the Paralympic Games Paris 2024. Mbali is passionate about training and development with a strong commitment to mentoring and educating new Doping Control Officers to uphold integrity in sport.

Thomas Moschner

dco.  (GER)
Thomas joined IDTM in 2015 as Project Lead, and since 2021, he is Director of International Quality Assurance and the NADA Germany Program. A nurse scientist by profession and a former swimmer, Thomas has been working as a DCO since 2008 and lead the testing department for the LOC of the European Aquatics Championships 2014 in Berlin. He now oversees IDTM's operations in Germany with their main client NADA Germany.

Billy Gannon

dcO,  (CAN)
Following his passion for sport, Billy continued his post-secondary education in sport, earning his Bachelor’s Degree and Post Graduate Certificate in Sports Management. Now entering his 19th year working with the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport, Billy has garnered a vast amount of experience in Anti-Doping, both in and outside of Canada. Billy was involved in the 2010 Winter Olympics as DCO and the 2015 Summer Pan Am Games as Doping Control Station Manager. As a member of IWF’s Clean Sport Commission, he assisted NADOs with their WADA Code Compliance Questionnaires and Corrective Actions, as well as the implementation of doping control at numerous National and International events in Canada. Currently, Billy is managing the anti-doping programs for the International Powerlifting Federation and the World Darts Federation on their behalf.
Closing Session

Dr Mark Stuart

ITA Forum Chair

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