The World Anti-Doping Agency has agreed to use only the most sensitive personal information of athletes for “anti-doping purposes,” Canada’s privacy commissioner announced Tuesday, settling a years-long investigation into the agency’s data-sharing practices.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada said in a statement that the World Anti-Doping Agency is committed to a series of measures that will help ensure that international sports organizations and anti-doping organizations do not use information collected from athletes for any other purpose.
“The World Anti-Doping Agency is tasked with protecting the most sensitive personal data of thousands of athletes from around the world,” said privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne.
“I welcome WADA’s commitment to take steps to ensure that this information is used only for the purposes for which it was collected.”
The World Anti-Doping Agency told Global News in a statement that it is “pleased” to enter into a compliance agreement and resolve the investigation.
“WADA takes the privacy of athletes’ data very seriously and has always complied with applicable privacy laws, including Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA),” a spokesperson said.
“WADA has not condoned privacy violations in Canada or elsewhere, but is willing to work with regulators to address privacy best practices.”
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Dufresne launched the investigation in November 2024 after receiving a complaint that the World Anti-Doping Agency had disclosed biological sample information to international sports federations, which were using that information to assess the sexual fitness of athletes without their knowledge or consent.
Such actions, if proven, would violate Canada’s privacy law, which the Montreal-based agency fell under in 2015.
The compliance agreement, signed by the agency’s director general and president, states that the World Anti-Doping Agency disputes the allegations and Dufresne’s jurisdiction over the investigation.
“WADA is willing to enter into this agreement to resolve the commission’s investigation, but WADA does not acknowledge any violation” of PIPEDA, the agreement states.
The commitment comes shortly after the conclusion of the Winter Olympic Games in Italy but with three months to go before the start of the FIFA World Cup in Canada, the US and Mexico.
Under the terms of the agreement, the agency will update the World Anti-Doping Code on Jan. 1, 2027, to clarify that athlete information collected in the Anti-Doping Administration and Management System should only be used for anti-doping purposes.
It must communicate that law to anti-drug use organizations within one month of signing the agreement, and update the privacy commission on how it will use it to ensure that those organizations comply with it no later than six months after signing.
The World Anti-Doping Agency must submit quarterly reports to the privacy manager on its progress in implementing its corrective measures until they are fully operational.
Dufresne has the right to apply for a court order to compel the agency to comply if he believes the steps set out in the agreement have not been completed.
“WADA’s decision to enter into this agreement does not constitute acceptance of the OPC’s jurisdiction over the issues discussed in this process, and WADA reserves its rights in this regard,” a spokesperson for the organization told Global News.
“However, WADA is fully committed to fulfilling all obligations within this compliance agreement.”
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
