Montreal, February 14, 2024
Following the meeting of the Executive Committee of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) September 22, 2023, WADA would like to provide an update on the Executive Committee's decision to approve the recommendation of the Independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC) of WADA and to add the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Angola (acting as the National Anti-Doping Organization – NADO) and the NADO of the Philippines to the WADA “watch list”. AMA for Compliance.
The Angola NOC's non-compliance relates to its failure to fully implement the 2021 version of the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code) in its legal system, while the Philippines NADO failed to correct several irregularities critical, as revealed by the WADA Code Compliance Questionnaire (CCQ) exercise.
In accordance with International standard for code compliance by signatories (SICCS), by adding anti-doping organizations (ADOs) to the “watch list”, the Executive Committee had granted these ADOs four additional months to implement their corrective action plans.
At the end of the monitoring period, the irregularities were still not corrected. Therefore, in accordance with Article 9.2.3 of the SICCS, on January 23, 2024, WADA sent both ADOs a formal notification of non-compliance. ADOs had 21 days, from the date of receipt of formal notification, to challenge WADA's allegation of non-compliance and/or the consequences and/or reinstatement conditions proposed by the Agency or to accept the allegation of non-compliance, in accordance with article 9.3.1 of the SICCS.
NOC of Angola (acting as NADO)
The NOC of Angola did not contest WADA's allegation of non-compliance, the proposed consequences for non-compliance, or the proposed conditions for reinstatement prior to the expiration of the 21-day period following the WADA's allegation of non-compliance. Therefore, the alleged non-compliance is deemed admitted and the consequences and conditions of reinstatement accepted. The formal notification of non-compliance sent to the NOC of Angola on January 23, 2024 is now a final decision.
As recommended by the CRC and approved by the WADA Executive Committee, in accordance with Article 24 of the Code, Article 10 of the SICCS and Appendix B of the SICCS, the following consequences are imposed on the NOC of Angola [available in English].
Another communication will be sent to the other signatories of the Code to help them implement the consequences against the NOC of Angola.
Philippine NADO
On February 13, WADA received official notification from the Philippine NADO that it contested the respective allegations of non-compliance against it. WADA will now refer the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which will rule on this matter. The consequences will not apply until the CAS has rendered its decision.
Non-compliant code signatories
There are currently two signatories to the Code that are in non-compliance, namely the Russian Anti-Doping Agency and the International Federation of Fitness and Bodybuilding. For more information on signatories to the Code and the consequences, please see the page “ Global list of non-compliant signatories and applicable consequences » on the WADA website.
