A period of heavy weather is looming in Indonesia, North Korea and Thailand. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced in a statement on Thursday, October 7th, that the National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs) of these three Asian countries had been declared non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code. This is with immediate effect. The same sanction applies to two international sports bodies, the International Deaf Basketball Federation (DIBF) and the International Gira Sport Federation (IGSF). In the case of the Anti-Doping Agency of Thailand, the non-compliance is due to its incomplete implementation of the 2021 version of the Code in its legal system, in connection with non-compliant legislation. For North Korea and Indonesia, the non-compliance is related to shortcomings in the implementation of an effective testing programme. In practice, WADA’s decision is anything but anecdotal for the three countries and the two bodies concerned. Among other consequences, they will not receive any funding from WADA for the development of specific activities or participation in special programmes, and their representatives will not be allowed to hold any position within the World Anti-Doping Agency. The three countries will also not be allowed to organise international competitions, at least during the period of their suspension by WADA.
