The U.S. Parachute Team is accelerating its preparations to attend the Féderátion Aéronautique Internationale World Parachuting Championships Mondial scheduled for August 7-21 after the World Anti-Doping Agency announced that the event may be held in the host country, Russia, which is under WADA sanctions. On May 6, the International Skydiving Commission announced WADA’s decision. In its letter to the ISC, WADA wrote, “Having reviewed the information provided by your organization and based thereon, we acknowledge your assessment that it would be legally or practically impossible to withdraw the Event from Russia or to reassign it to another country. Against this background, we do not consider the hosting of the Event in Tanay to be in violation of the Award.”

Significant work has also proceeded on an anti-COVID protocol for the championships, another condition for the event to proceed. After receiving a draft protocol, the ISC wrote that, “We are now of the opinion that appropriate health and safety measures will be taken during the event.” The WADA decision, combined with the significant progress made on the anti-COVID protocols, removes many of the uncertainties surrounding the event, and the U.S. Parachute Team is increasingly confident that it will be able to attend.