Montreal: The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Günter Younger as the Agency’s new Director of Intelligence and Investigations.
Younger, who will be stepping down from his role as Head of the Cybercrime Division with the Bavarian Landeskriminalamt (BLKA), will assume his new position in Montreal on 3 October. Younger, who was a member of WADA’s Independent Commission that investigated allegations of widespread doping in Russian athletics, will be responsible for leading WADA’s growing investigations activity.
“I am delighted to be able to confirm the appointment of Günter Younger as our new Director of Intelligence and Investigations,” said incoming WADA Director General, Olivier Niggli. “Günter is no stranger to many in the anti-doping community given the pivotal role that he played -- alongside Richard Pound and Richard McLaren -- on WADA’s Independent Commission,” added Niggli. “Increasingly, WADA and its anti-doping partners employ techniques to collect information and produce intelligence to maximize the global anti-doping program. We are confident that Günter’s rich pedigree in the world of law enforcement will bring tremendous value to clean sport and, as a result, clean athletes worldwide.”
Younger’s appointment comes at a time of increasing importance for investigative work under 2015 World Anti-Doping Code, which includes new provisions that permit WADA to initiate its own investigations; as evidenced by the 2015 Independent Commission and the recently-established McLaren Investigation.
While with BLKA, Mr. Younger gained broad experience in the law enforcement industry; including, with Europol and Interpol. With Interpol, Günter led the organization’s Drugs Operational Unit and the newly created Anti-Doping section.
