WPF is pursuing recognition within the Olympic Movement — building the governance, integrity and global reach that recognised international federations are expected to demonstrate.
Where we stand
Pursuing recognition
No pickleball body is yet recognised by the IOC. WPF is working to meet the conditions for recognition and states its status honestly: we are pursuing recognition, not claiming it.
What recognition requires
Recognition rests on being a credible, transparent world body: a unified federation with broad membership across continents, adopted statutes, recognition of CAS jurisdiction, a WADA-aligned anti-doping programme, and safeguards against competition manipulation.
The criteria — where we stand
Unified world federation
Achieved — WPF and the IPF have unified under a single international body.
Global membership
In progress — national federations across five continental confederations.
Adopted statutes
Partly met — By-Laws (2023) adopted; a consolidated Constitution is in draft.
CAS jurisdiction
In draft — recognition of the Court of Arbitration for Sport is written into the draft statutes.
WADA-aligned clean sport
In development — a clean-sport programme aligned to the World Anti-Doping Code.
Competition integrity
In draft — anti-manipulation and betting-integrity safeguards.
Our work across Governance and Integrity is building exactly this.