WAKO has defined the qualification criteria for the European Games 2027, which will take place in Istanbul, Türkiye, from 16–27 June 2027. As in 2023, three kickboxing disciplines have been confirmed for the Games. The official qualifying event will be the WAKO European Kickboxing Championships, taking place in Skopje, North Macedonia, from 6–15 November 2026. The road to Istanbul starts in Skopje!

TO ALL WAKO MEMBERS Dear Presidents and General Secretaries, Please be informed that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published the 2027 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods (List), which was approved by WADA’s Executive Committee (ExCo) during its meeting on 10 September 2026 and enters into force on 1 January 2027. You can find the major modifications for the 2027 Prohibited List in the 2027 Summary of Major Modifications and Explanatory Notes. The Therapeutic Use Exemption Program We would like to remind that Athletes who have a legitimate medical reason for using a prohibited substance or method that is on the List can apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) to determine whether they meet the criteria outlined in the International Standard for Therapeutic Use Exemptions (ISTUE). Educational resources  WADA has also provided educational resources which can be accessed on the Agency’s Anti-Doping Education and Learning Platform (ADEL), while an Athlete and ASP Guide to the 2027 List is expected in December. We kindly ask all WAKO National Federations to forward this e-mail and information to all of your affiliated clubs and members (athletes, coaches, medical personnel, team officials and other Athlete Support Personnel). Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring that all kickboxing athletes and their support personnel are properly informed about and prepared for the changes to the 2027 Prohibited List. Best regards, Barbara Falsoni WAKO Administration www.wako.sport

Introducing WAKO Worldwide — Our New Global E-Zine We’re pleased to launch WAKO Worldwide, a new publication bringing together the people, stories and achievements shaping our global kickboxing community. The first edition, August 2026, features a welcome from WAKO President Roy Baker, news from across the continents, championship highlights and a look ahead to the World Championships in Jesolo. Inside, we also celebrate the development of young athletes, women in sport, inclusive kickboxing and the partnerships supporting our sport’s future—all brought to life through photography from the WAKO community. Whether you’re an athlete, coach, referee, supporter or national federation representative, we invite you to explore the first issue and share it with your community. Read the first edition of WAKO Worldwide below.

Review WAKO’s Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your personal information in accordance with global standards. Privacy Policy A legal disclaimer The explanations and information provided on this page are only general and high-level explanations and information on how to write your own document of a Privacy Policy. You should not rely on this article as legal advice or as recommendations regarding what you should actually do, because we cannot know in advance what are the specific privacy policies you wish to establish between your business and your customers and visitors. We recommend that you seek legal advice to help you understand and to assist you in the creation of your own Privacy Policy. Privacy Policy - the basics Having said that, a privacy policy is a statement that discloses some or all of the ways a website collects, uses, discloses, processes, and manages the data of its visitors and customers. It usually also includes a statement regarding the website’s commitment to protecting its visitors’ or customers’ privacy, and an explanation about the different mechanisms the website is implementing in order to protect privacy. Different jurisdictions have different legal obligations of what must be included in a Privacy Policy. You are responsible to make sure you are following the relevant legislation to your activities and location. What to include in the Privacy Policy Generally speaking, a Privacy Policy often addresses these types of issues: the types of information the website is collecting and the manner in which it collects the data; an explanation about why is the website collecting these types of information; what are the website’s practices on sharing the information with third parties; ways in which your visitors an customers can exercise their rights according to the relevant privacy legislation; the specific practices regarding minors’ data collection; and much much more. To learn more about this, check out our article “Creating a Privacy Policy ”.

Access WAKO’s Education and E-Learning resources, designed to empower athletes, coaches, and referees with knowledge and skills. Education & E-learning Anti-doping education empowers athletes with the tools and skills to comply with the anti-doping rules and avoid unintentional doping violations. It’s an essential component of an athlete’s sporting career. Anti-doping education is equally essential for Athlete Support Personnel (ASP) (like coaches or sports physicians) and other “persons” (such as those who work in sport), because they are also liable under the anti-doping rules. Athletes and their entourage must have updated, accurate knowledge about the following: Definition of doping The different categories of Anti-Doping rule violations (ADRVs) Prohibited Substances and Methods List Supplements (managing the risk) What TUEs (Therapeutic Use Exemptions) are and how to apply Testing procedures Results management Sanctions Rights and responsibilities Educational resources Click on the below subjects: Play True Quiz Anti-Doping Education and Learning Platform (ADeL) ADEL hosts six eLearning courses and many other educational resources. So, whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, medical professional or play another role in supporting athletes ADeL has specific learning opportunities for you and your role in Kickboxing. The courses are available in several languages and certification is granted upon achieving at least an 80% pass rate. WADA – YouTube