Olivier Niggli
Switzerland
Director General of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)
Holder of a Masters in Law from the London School of Economics and an MBA from McGill University, the Swiss Olivier Niggli pursued a career as a lawyer for four years (2011 to 2014) at the Carrard et Associés firm in Lausanne, where he specializes in sports law, commercial law and arbitration. He then returned to WADA, where he had been Director of Legal Affairs and Chief Financial Officer between 2001 and 2011, to serve as Director of Operations and General Counsel of WADA. Since 1er July 2016, he became its general manager, with responsibility for more than 140 employees around the world.
- 1) Since you started professionally, what has been the most significant experience of your career?
Olivier Niggli : The fight against doping is a constant battle. During my years at the bar, then within the AMA for more than 15 years, there have been many memorable, difficult and enriching experiences. This ranges from the harmonization of rules on a global scale with the establishment of the first World Anti-Doping Code in 2003, to the Armstrong affair for example. However, if I had to pick just one, it would be the cheating affair organized by Russia during the Sochi Winter Olympics and everything that ensued from it. This ‘saga’ was a real earthquake for anti-doping, for the world of sport, and for all athletes. It forced the system to strengthen drastically, all in an extremely tense political context. It showed the need for investigations in the fight against doping, but also the limits of what anti-doping organizations, including WADA, can do alone and the need for collaboration with police forces. This affair also highlighted how, unfortunately, certain actors do not hesitate to exploit these types of tragic events to better pursue a partisan and unconstructive political agenda. It was therefore an experience rich in lessons at all levels, both technical and political.
2) How do you understand, in your role at WADA, the current situation and the uncertainty of the months to come?
I consider myself very privileged every day for the functions I perform. Not only do I get up every morning knowing that I am defending a just cause – clean sport – but I also have the chance to do it with a fantastic, motivated and competent team, who make my work possible and enjoyable. I am fundamentally optimistic by nature and I want to believe that the worst of the pandemic is behind us. Sport is starting to take off again, and let's hope that this summer the Olympic Games will mark the return to a more normal situation. There are still many challenges between now and July. Regarding anti-doping, in collaboration with the International Testing Agency (ITA), chaired by Valérie Fourneyron, with whom we have an excellent collaboration, our objective is in particular to stimulate the various actors in the fight against doping to collaborate with the ITA and each other, to ensure a robust and coordinated pre-Tokyo Games testing program around the world.
3) How would you define the way you exercise your role as a manager?
You have to ask those who work with me. For me, WADA's human capital is its most valuable asset, and my role is to ensure that everyone can give their best within the organization. I am someone who trusts and who, I think, leaves a lot of freedom to my colleagues. In return, I am demanding about the results and quality of the work.
4) What are the three most important values to you in your professional activity?
I would say: integrity, professionalism and humility.
