2026 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods  and the 2026 Monitoring Program are in force from 1 January 2026 The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced that the 2026 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods  and the 2026 Monitoring Program are in force from 1 January 2026. It designates which substances and methods are prohibited both in- and out-of-competition and which substances are banned in particular sports. The 2026 Monitoring Program includes substances that are not on the List, but that WADA wishes to monitor in order to detect potential patterns of misuse in sport.  The major modifications for 2026 include the following: -        Further examples or clarifications have been added to the following substance classes to help athletes and their entourage better identify prohibited substances:          S1. Anabolic agents,         S2. Peptide hormones, growth factors, related substances, and mimetics,           S4. Hormone and metabolic modulators, and         S6. Stimulants.    -        The dosing intervals of salmeterol have been changed to avoid potential ergogenic effects, though the maximum daily delivered dose remains the same. -        More details have been given about the prohibition of withdrawal of blood and blood components. -        The non-diagnostic use of carbon monoxide (CO) has been added to the Prohibited Methods as a new section, M1.4. The use of carbon monoxide for diagnostic purposes, such as total hemoglobin mass measurements or the determination of pulmonary diffusion capacity, is not prohibited. -        Cell components (e.g., nuclei and organelles such as mitochondria and ribosomes) have been added to the existing prohibition of using normal or genetically modified cells. -        It has been clarified in the Glucocorticoids Washout Table that use of sustained-release formulations may result in detectable glucocorticoid levels past the washout period due to prolonged systemic absorption.    For more info, visit link: https://www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/world-anti-doping-code-and-international-standards/prohibited-list#resource-download

WAKO is fostering participation of persons with disabilities in para-kickboxing and promoting their inclusion in sport activities as a very important segment of their life, ensuring their inclusion in all aspects of society. An estimated 1.3 billion people experience significant disability. This represents 16% of the world’s population, or 1 in 6 of us. WAKO launched the first para-kickboxing demonstration back in 2016, when  five para-kickboxers aged 15–18 young para-kickboxers from Maribor presented their skills during the European Kickboxing Championships.  That same year, Tomaž Barada, kickboxing champion and member of the WAKO Board of Directors, organized an auction of his most significant kickboxing trophies to raise funds for continuing work with inclusive groups in his sports center. In the years that followed, the development continued with the creation of rules and the formal definition of the para-kickboxing discipline, which required a multidisciplinary approach and strong involvement from WAKO’s expert committees. Soon, a dedicated Para and Inclusive Committee was established, with Jesús Equía (ESP) elected as its Chair. In 2024, demonstrations of para-kickboxing were held during the European Championships in Athens, and later during the European Junior Championships in Italy. In the Pan American region—especially in Argentina, Venezuela, and Brazil—para-kickboxing has also been actively developed, with athletes performing within continental championships since 2023. This year, at the World Championships in Abu Dhabi, para-kickboxing competition in technique performance was held for the first time, where athletes were evaluated according to the rules and medals were awarded.

"On this World Kickboxing Day, November 30th, 2025, let us celebrate the strength and unity we've forged together. Thank you to every athlete, coach, president, official and supporter for your dedication and spirit. Together, we have built a vibrant community that transcends borders and inspires greatness in each other. Here’s to where we are and the incredible journey ahead!" WAKO President - Mr. Roy Baker #onewako #onechampion

Women in Sport Committee Meeting Abu Dhabi, November 25, 2025 Athlete Corner • Updates from athletes on current projects and achievements • Discussion of challenges faced and support needed • Sharing best practices and inspirational stories Next Activities • Planning upcoming initiatives and events • Coordination with partners and stakeholders 8 March activities • Proposals: New ideas for celebrating the day • Awards: Recognition of outstanding contributions in women’s sport • Interviews: Media engagement with athletes and committee members • Celebration: Activities to highlight the day Regular Engagement • Two interviews scheduled every month with athletes, coaches, or leaders in sport • Aim: Increase visibility and promote women’s participation New technologiem Workshops • Upcoming workshop focused on AI applications in sport • Topics: Data analysis, performance tracking, and innovation in women’s sport • Opportunity for collaboration and knowledge.

TO ALL WAKO MEMBERS   The WAKO Athlete & Coach Corner will be active at the ADNEC Arena Abu Dhabi (address: Al Khaleej Al Arabi St - Al Rawdah - W59 01 - Abu Dhabi - UAE) welcoming you and your national teams from Monday 24 th to Friday 28 th November 2025 , during the next WAKO Senior and Master World Championship . Please come and visit to learn and share!

WAKO India Open International Kickboxing Cup 2026 We are happy to announce the upcoming  ‘5 th  WAKO India Open International Kickboxing Cup-2026’ .  The tournament will take place  from 4-8 February 2026 at K D Jadhav Indoor Stadium, Indira Gandhi Sports Complex, New Delhi, India.   Details regarding  ‘5 th  WAKO India Open International Kickboxing Cup-2026’  are being shared here:

North American Century Cup 25-28 September 2025: a celebration of excellence, sportsmanship, and world-class competition  With National teams representing Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, 19 teams from across the USA and 64 Canadian kickboxing clubs – the competition was a global experience.  The event brought together the full spectrum of kickboxing from Point Fighting to K-1.  The night show was a vibrant showcase of the diversity and unity in kickboxing sport. The Organizer was WAKO Canada, and the president Muzammal Nawaz said: "Over the years, WAKO Canada has experienced phenomenal growth – from our National Championships hosting 500+ competitors to our acclaimed Development Series events.  We’ve built a foundation for athletes at every level, and now, we’re stepping up the game. We as the organizers were deeply honored to have Honorable Neil Lumsden, the Minister of Sport, to officially open the event and personally recognized our national Team heading to the WAKO World Championship in Abu Dhabi in November this year. WAKO Canada is grateful for the support of Century Martial Arts and their President/CEO Michael Dillard who was on hand for the inaugural competition.  The North American Century Cup was created to elevate competition. Our teams of officials, medical staff, and volunteers delivered something truly special – and this is just the beginning. Thank you to all coaches, parents, and athletes for believing in our vision. Next year will be even bigger," said Mr. Nawaz closing the competition.

CHILDREN, CADETS and JUNIORS WAKO Youth European Championship JESOLO LIDO (VE) – ITALY From 12th to 21st SEPTEMBER 2025

Clean sport education is a cornerstone for clean sport. As a strategy measure, education aims to empower athletes and others to play clean, and to encourage behaviours in line with the principles and values of clean sport. As part of the ITA-ARISF clean sport education collaboration, we are pleased to provide WAKO members with access to a series of clean sport education webinars taking place at 14:00 – 15:00 CEST on Wednesday 24 September, Wednesday 1 October and Wednesday 8 October. These interactive one-hour sessions for athletes and Athlete Support Personnel have been designed to cover key anti-doping topics, and anti-doping rights and responsibilities. The webinars will be delivered in English, with simultaneous translation into Arabic, French, Mandarin Chinese, Russian and Spanish. Register now and share the registration link with your community: Click here to register Don’t miss this opportunity for kickboxers and support personnel to enhance their understanding of anti-doping and access to valuable tools and resources.

WAKO President Roy Baker and WAKO Pan Am President Paulo Zorello, together with delegation members Ruben Lara, Miguel Sarria and Edilberto Lara, met with the President of the Peru NOC to discuss the growth and development of kickboxing in Peru and the wider region. Both delegations successfully agreed on important initiatives to further support the sport’s development.

A Historic Week for Kickboxing This week marks a historic journey, not only for WAKO Panam, but also for WAKO IF and the entire sport of Kickboxing. A WAKO delegation, comprising Roy Baker, WAKO President, and Paulo Zorello, Pan American President, met with Colonel Nilton Rolin, President of the CISM (International Military Sports Council) to showcase the growth and global development of Kickboxing. The meeting also included a review of the two CISM events held last year: the CISM African Games and the first Military Kickboxing World Championships in Turkey. Discussions covered the finalization of the CISM Challenge Cups in 2026 and Kickboxing’s inclusion in the World Military Games in 2027. WAKO President Roy Baker stated: “It was a very productive meeting and we presented opportunities for both organizations, particularly emphasizing the alignment of cultures between WAKO and CISM: Honour, Respect, Inclusion, and Integrity. These are the cornerstones of what both WAKO and CISM stand for.” On August 27, the WAKO delegation continues to Lima, Peru, for a meeting with Renzo Manyari, President of the Peruvian Olympic Committee. The agenda: to present the WAKO Panam project, backed by WAKO IF, and to outline the path toward Kickboxing’s inclusion in the Lima 2027 Pan American Games. WAKO Panam, fully aligned with WAKO IF, continues to advance with determination across the continent.

WAKO Signs New MOU with FICS – International Federation of Sports Chiropractic During The World Games in Chengdu, China, WAKO 1st Vice President Espen Lund signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Federation of Sports Chiropractic (FICS), further strengthening the excellent relationship between the two organizations. FICS was present throughout The World Games in China, providing services for athletes across all sports. Their support was highly valued, especially by WAKO athletes. Representing FICS at the signing were President Martin Isaksson and Secretary General Brian Nook. Since 2017, WAKO has benefited from FICS services at both World and European Championships, for juniors and seniors alike. These services have proven to be a great asset for athletes and coaches during the intense schedule of championship weeks. President Roy Baker commented: “WAKO has been extremely satisfied with the service from the very beginning. The Chiropractic station at our Championships is always popular and, importantly, it is offered free of charge to everyone — which makes it truly unique. I even use it every year myself.” The FICS team will also be present at the upcoming Junior World Championships in Jesolo, as well as at the Senior World Championships in Abu Dhabi. The chiropractic service continues to be an integral part of WAKO’s Athlete and Coach Corner program.