UKAD Chief Executive leaving to join International Tennis Integrity Agency

• Nicole Sapstead to join International Tennis Integrity Agency after six years as UKAD Chief Executive.
• Sapstead to remain in post until August 2021.
• UKAD Board begins recruitment process.
• UKAD Chair Trevor Pearce commends Sapstead as a highly respected leader.

UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) Chief Executive Nicole Sapstead has today confirmed she is leaving the organisation for a new role in international anti-doping. Nicole has been chief executive for six years and has worked at the organisation since it was formed in 2009.

Nicole is joining the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) as their Senior Director for Anti-Doping, leading the sport’s worldwide anti-doping programme, which is due to come under the auspices of the ITIA from January 2022.

Speaking on the announcement, UKAD Chair Trevor Pearce CBE QPM said: “I am delighted for Nicole on being selected for a new role at the ITIA, where she will be leading the sport’s worldwide anti-doping programme. She will take her considerable knowledge of anti-doping and the working of a national anti-doping organisation (NADO) to a global sport and importantly develop her interest in building a consolidated response to integrity issues across sport.

“Nicole has been at the forefront of clean sport both in the UK and across the international NADO community for many years and is highly respected for her leadership and technical skills.

“During her time as chief executive of UKAD she has seen the organisation double in size and has delivered some significant development and initiatives, most recently the first assurance framework for anti-doping across sports in the UK.

“I, and the UKAD Board, wish her all the best in the exciting new role she is going to.”

Nicole Sapstead said: “Taking forward the international anti-doping programme for a high profile, global sport such as tennis and aligning it with the anti-corruption programme is a unique challenge and one I am very much looking forward to. I am also thrilled to be part of the new ITIA which is leading the way in best-in-class governance of integrity risk in sport.

“I have huge admiration and affection for the UKAD team, who I am sure will continue to set the standard for anti-doping efforts in British sport and I’m grateful for the Board’s support for my decision. I’m hugely looking forward to the next chapter in my career with the ITIA.”

Nicole will remain in post, leading UKAD until August 2021. The UKAD board have already met to discuss interim arrangements and have begun the next steps for selecting a new chief executive.