The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has announced that the country of Israel has been removed from the list of signatories previously deemed non-compliant with the 2015 World Anti-Doping Code.
Th board of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had convened last November in Colorado Springs, Colorado to further clarify its regulatory role, as well as review current nations’ compliance status concerning World Anti-Doping Code in light of the Independent Commission’s Report. As a result of the session, WADA deemed the National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) of Israel as non-compliant, citing the signatory’s lack of 2015 Code-compliant rules being in place.
However, according to WADA’s statement released earlier this week, the Anti-Doping Committee of Israel “has now drafted and adopted anti-doping rules in line with the Code.”
At that November meeting, Andorra was also deemed as non-compliant for lack of 2015 Code-compliant rules being in place, while Ukraine, Bolivia and Argentina were identified as non-compliant due to the use of non-accredited laboratories, a practice prohibited under global anti-doping rules. Of no surprise in light of the recent doping allegations brought to light late last year, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) was declared as non-compliant.
With WADA’s upgrading of Israel as now compliant, the nation represents the first country to have been removed from the list following WADA’s Foundation Board members’ vote.
Although currently considering taking on a more active role in the testing and monitoring of anti-doping measures, WADA, in its current ‘watchdog’ role, does not have the power to ban or impose sanctions on non-compliant countries. Its current responsibility is to report the cases to the Sports Movement and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Individual sporting bodies, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) currently have the ability to issue sanctions.
We reported this week that more nations are adopting legal ramifications for individual athletes having tested positive for banned substances in sports. Germany is the most recent example of a nation having implemented a criminal punishment, with Japan now considering similar legislation.
