Why did the International Olympic Committee (IOC) set up WADA to put an end to doping?
Before I get into that, let’s take a step back. WADA was established around 1999 to prevent doping in sports. Though WADA is an independent body, it was raised by the IOC. Performance-enhancing drugs were tarnishing the glory and prestige of the Olympics [ Images ] and more importantly, the use of such drugs is detrimental to the health of sportsmen. The Olympic Games [ Images ] are among the most prestigious brand of global sport, and a mega marketing opportunity [just like the Indian Premier League [ Images ]]. The IOC markets various rights related to the event, ‘owns’ athletes while they compete; and all event-related performance and images are the property of the IOC forever. WADA is an important initiative that protects the brand and marketability of the Olympics. Why have international athletes complied with an invasive whereabouts clause? So now to come back to the contentious whereabouts issue which states: “every sportsperson must declare his/her whereabouts for 1 hour of eve
