South Korea pays six figure sum to World Anti-Doping Agency to help with fight to keep sport clean

South Korea, the hosts of the next Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang in 2018, have donated an additional $200,000 (£130,000/€177,000) to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The cash will be used towards the development of the Agency's new anti-doping administration and management system (ADAMS) which is an online tool that allows athlete data entry and storage, as well as data-sharing and reporting, in a secure environment that restricts access to all but relevant parties.

Most international federations and anti-doping organsations use ADAMS as a central database and the Koreans already make an annual contribution of just over $128,000 (£83,000/€113,000).

Sir Craig Reedie has welcomed the Korean donation ©Getty Images

“WADA is very grateful for this generous donation made by the Government of the Republic of Korea,” said Sir Craig Reedie, WADA President.

"The gesture is a tangible demonstration of Korea’s ongoing commitment to partner with WADA, and the broader anti-doping community, to uphold the spirit of sport.

“These additional funds will be put to good use in developing the new ADAMS, a system that is key to leveling the playing field.”

Kim Chong, South Korean Vice Minister for Culture, Sports and Tourism, said his country was pleased to support ADAMS.

"As a WADA Foundation Board member and a leading country in information technology, Korea has taken this initiative to protect the health of athletes by helping create a fairer sporting environment via the new ADAMS,” he said.

“With this donation, we are helping tackle the complex issue of doping through financial support and also through expanded cooperation with WADA, the sports movement and other member states.”

WADA announced development of the new ADAMS, which will go live at the end of next year, in order to further the battle against doping and fulfill the agency's responsibillities under the revised World Anti-Doping Code.

Among other improvements, the new ADAMS will include an investigation platform, connectivity with other systems, an optimised user interface and improved performance and functionality.

Meanwhile, it emerged today that Scottish footballer Jordan McMillan, who was signed to Partick Thistle FC in the Scottish Premiership until March 2015, has been suspended from all sport for two years following an anti-doping rule violation.

UK Anti Doping confirmed that the 26-year-old tested positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine, following an in-competition test by UKAD in December.