ISLAMABAD: Pakistan hopes to get its name cleared/removed from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) watchlist after what the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) calls meeting the required standards set forth by the world body.
The WADA has set a February 4 deadline for Pakistan against non-compliance, making it clear that an international ban will be imposed if it fails to meet the deadline for compliance. When ‘The News’ approached Yasir Peerzada, Director General Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), as to what measures have been taken to meet the WADA requirements, the written reply came stating: “Pakistan has successfully addressed the two pending non-conformities identified by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) within the given deadline. These included amendments to the legal framework to align with the WADA Code and the establishment of a robust result management system and hearing panel. Despite limited resources, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) diligently implemented the Test Distribution Plan (TDP) for 2024, conducting 140 tests throughout the year. For 2025, PSB has introduced further amendments and improvements to the TDP in consultation with the Japan Anti-Doping Organization (JADA) to ensure compliance with international anti-doping standards. With no further objections raised by WADA’s Code Compliance Centre so far, we are hopeful that Pakistan will be removed from the watch-list soon.”
WADA’s recent communication to all the non-compliance member countries including Pakistan confirmed that the Executive Committee (ExCo) followed the recommendations of the Compliance Review Committee (CRC) to place ADOP on the ‘watchlist’, giving an additional four months to correct outstanding non-conformities.
This deadline of 12th January passed without the non-conformities having been corrected to the satisfaction of the CRC. Consequently, ADOP is now alleged non-compliant and the signatory consequences listed in the ExCo decision will apply as of 4th February if the signatory does not correct their non-conformities in full or dispute WADA’s allegation of non-compliance.
“While WADA will monitor the implementation of the consequences imposed on this NADO, this communication aims to draw attention to the fact that under Code Article 24.1.9, other signatories to the Code must recognize and implement these consequences in full. Signatories should be aware that these consequences are not the same as for other cases of non-compliance (e.g, the Court of Arbitration for Sport decision in the case of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency).”
As approved by the WADA ExCo on September 12, 2024, the consequences applied to Anti-Doping Organisation of Pakistan (ADOP) in accordance with the Code Article 24 and Article 10 and Annex B of the international standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS) are the following: The consequences of non-compliance of ADOP included
ADOP representatives shall be ineligible to sit as members of the boards or committees or other bodies of any Code Signatory (or its members) or association of Signatories until the ADOP is Reinstated. Signatories and related associations are asked to ensure immediately that any relevant NADO or government Representatives, as defined in the Code that are current members of any relevant board, committee or body, are removed from that position for the relevant period.
The PSB with the latest reply submitted with the WADA is hopeful that measures taken by the Board would be accepted by the body, enabling the country to get a clean chit. It is believed that WADA will consider Pakistan reply in next sub-committee meeting before announcing their decision.