To the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)

We, the undersigned members of the freediving community, write this open letter to you with deep concern and a strong call for immediate action in the interests of the  integrity, fairness, and safety of our sport. 

Recent events have highlighted the urgent need for decisive measures to preserve the principles at the core of fair competition.

We believe it is imperative to address a significant gap in the current World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned substances list for freediving.

The inclusion of benzodiazepines on this list is long overdue. 

According to Dr. Michel Léglise, the CMAS anti-doping and medical director, "[benzodiazepines] are totally unfair as assimilated to a doping practice to enhance performance." He further emphasises that "the side effects [of benzodiazepines] can induce a profound and dangerous sedation, reduction or loss of consciousness, heart and respiratory depression, even coma and, in all cases, insidious and durable loss of cognition."

Furthermore, several other drugs have been found to have Performance Enhancing properties in freediving, these include: 

Pulmonary arterial hypertension: sildenafil
Sedative: hydroxyzine
Sedative: choral hydrate
Sedative: propofol
Sedative:  precedex
Thyroid suppressant: thioamides

We strongly urge you to ban benzodiazepines and the drugs in the above list from freediving, when used or possessed without a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE), and to update the doping legislations for the sport. Failing to implement these reasonable restrictions would expose our  sport and those who practise it to significant risks, including the potential for catastrophic injuries or even fatalities resulting from the misuse of these dangerous drugs. We understand that it is a primary responsibility of WADA to protect freedivers from such critical dangers.

The freediving community stands united, urging you to address our concerns promptly for the health and well-being of this great sport. We trust in your commitment to preserving the integrity of freediving, and count on your timely and appropriate response.