Montreal, October 31, 2003 – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced today that it will officially open two regional offices in Tokyo, Japan, and in Cape Town, South Africa, November 1.

The offices will be responsible for the Asia and Oceania region and the Africa region respectively. WADA now has three regional offices, with the third based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Kazuhiro Hayashi has been named as director of the Asia/Oceania regional office. Hayashi was formerly counselor to the cabinet office of the Japanese prime minister. Rodney Swigelaar, who previously served as the minister of sports’ department advisor on doping issues in South Africa, will run the regional office in South Africa.

‘WADA is pleased to have all three of our regional offices up and running and we are delighted to have two professionals such as Kazuhiro and Rodney at the helm of our newest offices,’ said David Howman, WADA’s Director General. ‘Having these offices will allow us to provide better service to our stakeholders in all regions of the world.’

WADA’s Executive Committee and Foundation Board approved the opening of the two regional offices in late 2002. The Lausanne office has been in existence since 1999.

For more details contact:

Frederic DONZE
Manager, Media Relations
Tel: + 1 514 904 8820
Cell: + 1 514 979 8820
E-mail: frederic.donze@wada-ama.org