GPF Partners with ITA to Launch Independent Anti-Doping Program Through 2028

The Global Pickleball Federation (GPF) and the International Testing Agency (ITA) announced a joint anti-doping agreement this week, setting out a structured plan through 2028 that emphasises education, testing, and comprehensive athlete protection. 

The roadmap, extending for at least three years, will gradually implement the key elements of a modern integrity system: updated rules, clear operational processes, educational programs for athletes and coaches, and administrative structures to support orderly growth. 

The ITA noted that this framework aligns with pickleball’s current stage of global development, aiming to eventually meet the standards required for Signatory status under the World Anti-Doping Code. 

In the initial phase, the focus will be on consolidating regulatory foundations, including adopting Code-compliant rules, producing educational materials, and training the community to strengthen early compliance. From 2026, operational processes such as risk assessments for testing, results management, and administration of Therapeutic Use Exemptions will be gradually introduced. 

Highlighting the agreement’s significance, ITA Director General Benjamin Cohen said, "Pickleball has experienced extraordinary growth, and with that comes the responsibility to build strong, independent structures. With this roadmap, the GPF is laying the foundations for a sustainable long-term framework." 

GPF President Javier Regalado added, "As our sport expands internationally, it is essential to uphold the highest standards of fairness, transparency and athlete wellbeing. This partnership ensures an independent and expert management of our anti-doping programme." 

Marcin Matysik, GPF board member and project lead, also remarked, "We want pickleball to stand among the most respected sports, and that means building integrity structures now, not later. This agreement protects our athletes and strengthens the values on which the federation was founded." 

Implementation begins immediately, with both organisations working closely to ensure a smooth rollout. The partnership represents a significant step in sporting integrity and defines the global community that pickleball aims to foster. 

The agreement is part of a wider trend of institutional consolidation in pickleball. This sport has evolved over the past decade from informal roots to structured governance, where independent oversight is increasingly vital for international credibility.