IMMAF Achieve’s WADA Signatory Status

The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation has been awarded WADA Code signatory status by the World Anti-Doping Agency, becoming the first organisation to do so under the revised Policy for Acceptance of New Signatories that came into effect at the beginning of 2021.

SBGHQ head coach, and Irish Mixed Martial Association President John Kavanagh has described the news as “the biggest story in MMA history”. The news will provide a massive boost in the organisation’s goal of reaching Olympic status with hopes to have Mixed Martial Arts competition at a future Olympic Games.

IMMAF President Kerrith Brown spoke about his excitement surrounding the news.

 “As the first international sports governing body to complete WADA’s new application process, we have set a new benchmark not just for MMA, but for sport. Today, IMMAF can be proud that its gold standard in clean MMA has been formally recognised, guaranteeing transparency, fairness and safety to our athletes and empowering us to implement further improvements in governance. This sees IMMAF become the only international federation for MMA with WADA signatory status, following six years adherence to WADA compliant anti-doping regulation. Today’s result is not only a significant achievement for IMMAF but also for our national federations which have contributed to this journey, and it will surely strengthen their bids for national sport recognition.”

WADA President Witold Bańka commented:

 “WADA is pleased to welcome the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation into the Clean Sport community. In signing the Code, it joins the more than 600 sports organizations that have already pledged their support to the harmonized global anti-doping movement. We would particularly like to acknowledge the efforts that have been made by IMMAF to bring this to fruition. In order to gain approval under the terms of the revised policy, the federation needed to go through a stringent process. This included the assessment by independent experts of its level of good governance, a review of its application by WADA’s newly created Signatory Expert Group – which is independent from WADA Management – and the completion of an extensive Code Compliance Questionnaire to demonstrate the quality of their anti-doping program. This is a positive step for IMMAF and its athletes, who will now enjoy the protection afforded by the Code.”