When the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was established in Lausanne (Switzerland) in November 1999, stakeholders always intended to make sure its mandate would be global. As an international organization, WADA has an obligation to serve all its constituents in all regions of the globe.

WADA's Foundation Board agreed in 2001 to move the Agency's headquarters to Montreal (Canada). The Board members also agreed that regional offices in other parts of the world are necessary to facilitate the Agency's work and communications of stakeholders on a grassroots level.

In April 2002, when the Agency's headquarters were moved to the North American continent, a small office remained open in Lausanne to serve as the office for the European region. In November 2003, similar offices were set up to serve the Asia/Oceania Region (based in Tokyo, Japan) and the African continent (based in Cape Town, South Africa). A Latin American regional office was launched in 2005 in Montevideo (Uruguay).

Regional offices are a key element to WADA's fight against doping in sport, increasing understanding and facilitating implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code. These offices carry out a number of duties in conjunction with the staff in Montreal, aimed at furthering WADA's vision of promoting a doping-free culture in sport.

All regional offices share some core roles and responsibilities: liaising with stakeholders in their respective regions; actively promoting WADA and its mission; providing information to the media and public on doping issues; and coordinating projects such as those related to education, communications, or implementation of the Code.

Regional office staff also best know and understand the needs of the continents in which they live and have great responsibility in ensuring that WADA’s work is best tailored to suit these needs.

For more about our regional offices, please refer to their individual pages in the left menu.