“Sri Lanka Anti-doping organisation declared non-compliant” – WADA

 By Huzefa Aliasger 

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has put the National Anti-Doping Organisation of Sri Lanka on its non-compliance list, after the country’s national anti-doping body failed to address issues in its legal system, according to a statement from it.   

The Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA) is responsible for eradicating all forms of doping in sports, the act of consuming artificial and often illegal substances to gain an advantage over others in sporting competitions.   

“If Sri Lanka fails to meet the conditions of reinstatement within 12 months, Sri Lanka’s flag will not be flown at regional, continental, or world championships, as well as other events organized by major event organizations including the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, “ WADA said in an article issued against the non-compliance of SLADA.   

The organisation did not address or dispute WADA’s concerns and was therefore suspended “with immediate effect,” WADA said. Along with Sri Lanka, three other countries have been declared as non-compliant by WADA which include Russia, the International Federation of Basque Pelota and the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation.   

On March 27, WADA had issued a communication confirming to place the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency on the watch list, giving an additional four months to correct the outstanding non-conformity. The WADA said the deadline of July 27 lapsed without the non-conformity. Consequently, a formal notice of non-compliance was issued to SLADA on July 28, allowing 21 days starting from the formal notice until midnight on August 18 to dispute the allegation of non-compliance and the proposed conditions of reinstatement.   

WADA said, “since the SLADA did not file a dispute by the deadline, the allegation of noncompliance is now deemed admitted, the Signatory consequences and reinstatement conditions are now deemed accepted, and consequently the formal notice has automatically become a final decision enforceable with immediate effect in accordance with Code Article 24.1.9.”   

Some of the consequences of non-compliance include Sri Lanka not being able to host any event hosted or organised or co-hosted or co-organised by WADA. Sri Lanka will also not receive any WADA funding related to development activities while the country will not be awarded the right to host regional, continental or world championships, as well as other events organised by major event organisations, until SLADA is reinstated, the statement issued by the World Anti-Doping Agency noted.