WAKO WORLDWIDE ISSUE 02 IS OUT NOW! The next generation. One global community. The stories shaping the future of kickboxing. WAKO is proud to announce the release of Issue 02 of WAKO Worldwide, the official monthly magazine bringing together the people, events, achievements and developments driving kickboxing forward across the globe. The September 2026 edition puts the spotlight on the next generation of athletes, following the WAKO World Youth Kickboxing Championships in Jesolo, Italy, where 3,700 athletes from 79 nations, representing 4,874 entries, came together on one global stage. But WAKO Worldwide goes far beyond competition results. This latest 24-page edition explores the people behind the sport, the values that unite our international community and the opportunities shaping kickboxing's future. Inside Issue 02: 🥊 The Next Generation – Celebrating young athletes, their achievements and the friendships that extend beyond the medals. 🌍 Around the World – News and developments from Asia, Europe and the Americas. 🏅 The Road Ahead – Kickboxing's place at the World Games 2029 and the journey towards the European Games 2027. 👩 Women in Sport – Recognising initiatives creating more opportunities for women across kickboxing. 🤝 Beyond the Fight – Para and Inclusive Kickboxing, safeguarding, education and athlete development. 📢 Leadership & Community – Updates from the WAKO General Assembly, coaches, officials and the people helping our sport grow. Featuring a message from WAKO President Roy Baker, this edition reflects the progress, ambition and shared values of an international sporting community that continues to grow stronger. One WAKO. One Champion. One Brand Globally. 📖 WAKO Worldwide – Issue 02 | September 2026 OUT NOW – Discover the stories behind the sport. #WAKO #WAKOWorldwide #Kickboxing #OneWAKO #WorldKickboxing #YouthKickboxing

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

Learn about WAKO’s anti-doping initiatives, policies, and education programs to ensure integrity and fairness in kickboxing worldwide. Introduction to Anti-doping The use of doping substances or doping methods to enhance performance is fundamentally wrong and is detrimental to the overall spirit of sport. Drug misuse can be harmful to an Athlete’s health and to other Athletes competing in the sport. It severely damages the integrity, image and value of sport, whether or not the motivation to use drugs is to improve performance. To achieve integrity and fairness in sport, a commitment to a clean field of play is critical. WAKO seeks to maintain the integrity of kickboxing by running a comprehensive anti-doping program that focuses equally on education/prevention and on testing, with consequent sanctioning of those who break the rules. Principles and values of clean sport Anti-doping programs seek to maintain the integrity of sport in terms of respect for rules, other competitors, fair competition, a level playing field, and the value of clean sport to the world. The spirit of sport is the celebration of the human spirit, body and mind. It is the essence of Olympism and is reflected in the values we find in and through sport, including: Health Ethics, fair play and honesty Athletes’ rights as set forth in the Code Excellence in performance Character and Education Fun and joy Teamwork Dedication and commitment Respect for rules and laws Respect for self and other Participants Courage Community and solidarity The spirit of sport is expressed in how we play true. The World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) embodies these values – we believe in a clean and fair play, and doping stands in direct contradiction to what kickboxing represents. We encourage all kickboxers – not just Athletes, but coaches, administrators, medical personnel and all other members of the Athlete entourage – to take the time to review this section and get informed. Why is anti-doping important? Anti-doping rules exist to ensure fairness on the field of play. All rules and the fact that they are monitored and reinforced are designed to prevent any participant from taking an unfair advantage over another. The use of doping substances or methods to enhance performance is not only wrong, but are also harmful to Athletes’ mental and physical health. What is doping? According to the World Anti-Doping Code is defined as the occurrence of one or more of the following Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs). Most commonly, this means a presence of a prohibited substance in an Athlete’s sample collected during Doping Control. However, it’s not just a positive test that can result in a sanction. In fact, there are 11 Anti-Doping Rule Violations: Presence of a prohibited substance in an Athlete’s sample Use or attempted use of a prohibited substance or method Refusal to submit to sample collection after being notified Failure to file Athlete whereabouts information & missed tests Tampering with any part of the doping control process Possession of a prohibited substance or method Trafficking a prohibited substance or method Administering or attempting to administer a prohibited substance or method to an Athlete Complicity in an ADRV Prohibited association with sanctioned Athlete Support Personnel Discourage or Retaliate other Persons from reporting relevant Anti-Doping information to the authorities. Who is subject to the anti-doping rules? The first four Anti-Doping Rule Violations on the above list apply only to Athletes since they refer to the obligation not to take banned substances and the obligation to submit to testing. However, the remaining seven types of ADRVs apply to both the Athletes and the Athlete Support Personnel, such as coaches and team doctors, or anyone else working with the Athlete. National and International Federation administrators, officials and sample collection staff may also be liable for their conduct under the World Anti-Doping Code. Everybody involved in kickboxing must respect the World Anti-Doping Code and may be liable for committing an Anti-Doping Rule Violation. Who governs anti-doping? The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is the independent international body responsible for harmonizing anti-doping policies in all sports and all countries. The World Anti-Doping Code (Code) is the core document that harmonizes anti-doping policies, rules and regulations within sport organizations around the world. The Code is supplemented by 8 International Standards, including the Prohibited List that is updated at least annually. As a Signatory of the World Anti-Doping Code, WAKO is responsible for implementing an effective and Code-compliant anti-doping program for the sport of kickboxing. WAKO has therefore delegated the management of its clean sport activities to the International Testing Agency (ITA), an independent organisation that manages anti-doping programs on behalf of International Federations and Major Event Organisers. WAKO’s anti-doping program is not limited to doping controls, it also includes activities like Risk Assessment, management of Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) for international-level Athletes, Results Management and Education.

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