The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced on Friday that the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) will face additional sanctions for its failure to address non-compliance issues. WADA also found the Pan American Sport Organisation (Panam Sports) and the South Africa and Bermuda Anti-Doping Agencies to be in non-compliance with the WADA code. However, the impact of these new sanctions on RUSADA is expected to be limited due to existing sanctions imposed by world sporting bodies as a result of Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.
The Compliance Review Committee (CRC) of WADA has recommended several punishments for Russia, including the prohibition of flying the Russian flag at the Olympic Games, world championships, continental and regional competitions until certain reinstatement conditions are met. These sanctions are considered fresh consequences, as the previous sanctions imposed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in December 2020 have expired after two years.
RUSADA was declared non-compliant due to non-conformities related to national legislation that were identified during a virtual audit in September 2022. Similarly, South Africa and Bermuda’s non-compliance is attributed to their failure to properly implement the WADA Code into their legal systems. Both countries have a 21-day period to address and resolve the non-compliance concerns.
South Africa, in particular, faces a tight deadline as it pertains to the Rugby World Cup. If the non-compliance issues are not resolved before the 21-day appeal window closes, South Africa would be unable to fly their flag if they advance to the quarter-finals and beyond. In the case of the Pan Am Games, which are scheduled for Santiago from October 20 to November 5, the main impact of non-compliance would be the supervision of the entire testing program implemented by Panam Sports at their own expense.
In conclusion, RUSADA, Panam Sports, and the South Africa and Bermuda Anti-Doping Agencies have been found to be in non-compliance with the WADA code. While RUSADA will face additional sanctions, the impact may be limited due to existing sanctions imposed by other sporting bodies. The recommended punishments for Russia include the prohibition of flying their flag at various competitions until certain conditions are met. South Africa and Bermuda have 21 days to address the non-compliance concerns, with potential consequences for their participation in upcoming events.
