The International Canoe Federation Congress will be asked this week to endorse a partnership with the International Testing Agency which will strengthen the sport’s goal of making its competitions drug free. 

If agreed, the ITA will take over the ICF’s athlete drug testing program from next year. 

The ITA partnership will be one of several important changes which will be put to Congress in Pattaya, Thailand, later this week. The Congress will mark one year since the election of German Thomas Konietzko as ICF President. 

The three-day meeting will also feature workshops examining new sources of revenue, and look at successful case studies involving other national federations on membership and event organisation. There will also be a workshop focusing on sustainability and the ICF development program. 

The meeting will also consider an application from Solomon Islands to join the ICF, and will also discuss opportunities and programs to support ICF athletes.  

The 39th ICF Congress begins on Thursday and runs through until next Saturday.