Witold Banka Re-elected President of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

The current head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Witold Banka, has been re-elected for a longer term. This was reported by 'Glavkom'.

The re-elections took place on Thursday, May 29. Banka was the only candidate, and the official's powers have been extended until December 31, 2028.

New Disqualifications for Russian Weightlifter

Recall that the weightlifter from Russia, Rodion Bochkow, who has been suspended since 2023 for doping use, received another disqualification.

It is noted that the 31-year-old athlete received an eight-year disqualification based on data from the Moscow anti-doping laboratory (LIMS), which found steroids in Bochkow's doping sample in October 2012.

The International Testing Agency (ITA) annulled the results of the Russian athlete shown between October 8, 2012, and May 19, 2020. Thus, the weightlifter lost the bronze medal of the 2019 European Championship and the silver of the 2017 Universiade.

In December 2023, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) disqualified Bochkow for four years, taking into account the Time already served under temporary removal from May 19, 2020, to May 27, 2021. He was found guilty of using dehydrochloromethyltestosterone.

WADA President Witold Banka has been re-elected for a long term, thus he will continue to lead the agency until 2028. At the same time, the Russian weightlifter Rodion Bochkow received a new eight-year disqualification for doping use, losing some of his sports achievements. The doping situation in sports continues to be a pressing issue, and control over violations of anti-doping regulations is gaining more strength.