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Kirsty Coventry, president of the International Olympic Committee, stated during the 2025 World Anti-Doping Agency Congress held at BEXCO in Busan on the 2nd, “Sports achieves its true power when based on trust,” and “Only when every athlete competes honestly without using performance-enhancing substances can we establish trust in sports.”

This marks the first time that the WADA Congress, which takes place every six years, is being held in Asia. During this Congress, which will continue until the 5th, the ‘World Anti-Doping Code’—the top international standard that will be followed by international sports organizations and national anti-doping agencies for six years starting in 2027—will be unveiled. More than 2,000 domestic and international sports representatives are attending, including WADA President Witold Bańka, Chairperson Coventry, former IOC President Thomas Bach, and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young.

During the opening ceremony, Chairperson Coventry referred to the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, which are set to begin in roughly two months. Having been chosen as the 10th IOC chairperson last March, she stated, “This will be the first Olympics I lead as chairperson, and I aim to organize an event that all viewers can trust and find motivating,” she added, “If the sense of unity we experienced at the Busan Congress continues until the Olympics, I believe it will result in a competition that not only supports athletes but also ensures the future of sports. Progress is only possible through collaboration.”

President Bańka said that day, “An athlete’s worth is not measured by medals but by honesty,” and “Whether you win or lose, maintaining your character, humility, and integrity is what truly honors sport.” The former Polish sprinter mentioned, “When I was a runner on a small track, my coach told me, ‘It’s better to finish last with honor than to win through cheating.’”

He stated, “Even now, somewhere, a gifted young athlete is dealing with the lure and pressure of using performance-enhancing substances,” and “We need to be stronger than those influences. We should ensure these athletes receive comprehensive anti-doping education before they commit irreversible errors.” President Bańka added, “This is exactly why this Congress holds significance,” noting, “Anti-doping is not the duty of one country alone but of the whole world. In Busan, a symbol of global connection and advancement, I hope anti-doping officials from across the globe will find motivation to come together and collaborate.”

After President Bańka, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young addressed the audience, stating, “To combat doping, we occasionally need to pose challenging questions and take tough choices,” and continued, “Every decision we make will contribute to clean sports free from doping, fair competitions where outcomes are based purely on genuine effort and hard work, and a sporting environment that future generations can rely on.” He mentioned, “The decisions made at the Busan Congress will shape the regulations for coming generations,” and “As a physical legacy that will last through time, I believe the shared experiences and insights of all of us will act as a landmark guiding the future of sports.”

The opening ceremony also saw the presence of Yang Yun-jun, president of the KADA (Korea Anti-Doping Agency), and Kim Yeon-koung, an ambassador for the WADA Congress and a member of the KADA athlete committee. President Yang stated, “This Congress will serve as a crucial platform for developing the protocols and international standards we need to address ever more advanced doping techniques and to enhance global anti-doping governance.”

Commissioner Kim Yeon-koung stated, “It is significant that the WADA Congress is taking place for the first time in Asia in Busan, a city that has been a part of many international stages in Korean sports history.” She added, “It is our shared responsibility and mission to safeguard athletes from doping and create a fair competition environment,” noting, “This is a goal that the global sports community must accomplish collectively, not by any single individual or organization. I believe the various perspectives gathered at this Congress will serve as a catalyst for promoting a fair sports culture.”