The International Canoe Rowing Federation (ICF) and the International Testing Agency (ITA) have entered into a partnership to enhance the independence and professionalization of the anti-doping program for rowing athletes. As of early 2023, ITA manages all ICF clean sports operations, including results management. In November last year, the ICF Congress agreed to delegate to ITA the entire anti-doping program for rowing, which it manages. The independent expert organization has already started working with some areas of clean sport for the ICF in 2022 before the decision on a full delegation was ratified at the congress, with the aim of further enhancing the professionalism of its athletes' anti-doping efforts and increasing their independence. ITA has been managing the entire ICF testing program since the beginning of 2023, both for doping control and out-of-competition doping control. This testing program is based on a risk assessment based on factors that include the physiological profile and athletic characteristics of the rowing disciplines that ICF represents. The management of Athletes' Biological Passports (ABP) is also under the responsibility of the ITA. ITA has also developed a long-term strategy for samples taken from kayaking and canoeing athletes to increase the impact and deterrence factor of the ICF anti-doping program. Stored samples can be analyzed within ten years after the date of collection if new information obtained as a result of research provides concrete evidence or if improved and refined laboratory technologies provide advanced analysis. ITA will also be responsible for providing Therapeutic Use Permits (TUE) for ICF athletes. Applications for TUE will be reviewed by the ITA International Therapeutic Use Authorization Committee (ITUEC), a network of the world's best doctors and pharmacists with expertise in sports medicine that provides a confidential and respectful review of athletes' medical information. To provide ICF athletes with a targeted and data-driven anti-doping program, ITA will lead the collection of relevant information to enable the sharing of confidential information through its REVEAL doping reporting platform. ITA will also raise awareness about doping, support the values of clean sport and promote doping prevention among all canoeing athletes by developing a four-year educational plan starting in 2023, in accordance with the WADA International Education Standard. To support the implementation of this plan, ITA will present special online educational events and activities specifically designed for ICF athletes. All clean sport activities on behalf of the ICF are carried out by ITA in strict accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and its international standards, and ITA's special Regulatory compliance unit ensures full compliance with all mandatory rules. Any potential anti-doping rule violations related to his anti-doping efforts will be subject to independent ITA results processing. "The various ICF disciplines combine an exciting combination of agility, strength and endurance. My team and I have already collaborated with the ICF during Tokyo 2020 and are very interested in supporting the ICF anti-doping program throughout the year. I am pleased that the ICF and its stakeholders took an important step towards the independence of their clean sport efforts during their congress late last year by fully delegating their anti-doping program to the ITA. I thank them for putting this responsibility on us and believing that we support fair play and protect their athletes." ITA CEO Benjamin Cohen said. ICF President Thomas Konicko said the partnership would benefit the international family of kayaking and canoeing. "At the ICF, we have always been proud of our tough stance against doping in sports, as well as our leading role in educating our sports community about clean sports. By partnering with ITA, we will take this commitment to a new level. We are impressed by the incredible amount of work that ITA has already done in this area, and we are confident that a strong partnership awaits us."