Panam Sports and Bermuda has staved off the threat of being declared Non-Compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code in a boost to this year's Pan American Games, due to start in Santiago next Friday, October 20th.
The continental body, covering 41 National Olympic Committees, faced the embarrassment of being declared non-compliant by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) last month for failing to make "critical corrective actions" to its anti-doping programme.
In a statement released by WADA, “As part of a circulatory vote that ended yesterday, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) Executive Committee (ExCo) approved a revised recommendation of the Agency’s independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC) to add the Bermuda National Anti-Doping Organization (Bermuda NADO) to WADA’s compliance ‘watchlist’1.
On September 22nd, 2023, the ExCo followed the CRC’s recommendation to allege the Bermuda NADO as non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) due to a failure to appropriately implement the Code into their legislation.
In the days following the ExCo, the Bermuda NADO provided draft amendments to the legislation that WADA confirmed were in line with the Code, as well as a clear calendar for adoption of those amendments within four months. On this basis, the CRC has updated its recommendation for inclusion on the ‘watchlist’. As per the International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS), by adding the Bermuda NADO to the ‘watchlist’, the ExCo has given it four months to execute its corrective action plans. If by February 12th, 2024 the non-conformities have not been corrected to the satisfaction of the CRC, the Bermuda NADO will be alleged as non-compliant without the need for a further decision by the ExCo.
The CRC is responsible for providing independent advice, guidance, and recommendations to WADA Management and governing bodies on matters relating to Signatories' compliance with their obligations under the Code. The CRC Chair, Mr. Henry Gourdji, will report to the next meetings of the ExCo and Foundation Board that will be held on November 16th and 17th November 2023.”
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