Two-time Irish Paralympian Patrick O’Leary has been elected as a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Foundation Board as one of two new athlete representatives.

O’Leary will represent the para-athlete community on the board, which has been formed as part governance reforms designed to strengthen the voice of athletes within WADA.

The Irishman will join Namibian shooter Gaby Ahrens and two representatives of the National Anti-Doping Organisation (NADO) on the foundation board.

The four new members of the foundation board will be formally inducted once the revised WADA Statutes that reflect the Agency’s latest round of governance reforms have been officially approved by the Foundation Board and Swiss authorities.
 
“I would like to congratulate WADA’s new Executive Committee and Foundation Board Members elected by and from the Agency’s Athlete Council and NADO Expert Advisory Group,” WADA President Witold Bańka said.

“The Agency is strengthened significantly by embedding more athlete and NADO representation into our governance structure and decision-making process.  I look forward to welcoming our new members around the table and benefitting from their valuable insight as we lead our global collaborative mission for doping-free sport.”