Pakistan removed from WADA watchlist

ISLAMABAD: After months of uncertainty, Pakistan has officially been cleared from the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) compliance watch-list, following a decision of WADA’s Executive Committee (ExCo), a breakthrough that safeguards the country’s athletes from international sanctions.

In September 2024, the WADA Executive Committee, acting on the recommendation of the Compliance Review Committee (CRC), placed Pakistan’s Anti-Doping Organization (ADOP) on the Code compliance watchlist.

The CRC cited “outstanding non-conformities” with several provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code (2021 edition) and International Standards: Article 20.5.1 requiring governments to put in place appropriate legislation and regulations to implement the Code; Article 23.5.1 – requiring National Anti-Doping Organizations to adopt and enforce anti-doping rules in line with the Code; deficiencies in compliance with the International Standard for Results Management (ISRM) and International Standard for Testing & Investigations (ISTI).

A compliance deadline of January 2025 was set. Failure to resolve the non-conformities would have resulted in an official “non-compliance” declaration, triggering Article 24.1 consequences, including a ban on Pakistani athletes competing under the national flag at major events; ineligibility to host international sporting competitions; suspension from WADA committees and decision-making forums.

The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) — implemented urgent reforms: adoption of new anti-doping rules compliant with the 2021 WADA Code; establishment of independent results management and hearing panels, as required under the ISRM; revision of Pakistan’s Test Distribution Plan (TDP) to align with WADA’s risk-based testing strategy under the ISTI; and legal and procedural amendments ensuring ADOP’s decisions carried enforceable authority within Pakistan’s sports system.

By early 2025, Pakistan submitted evidence of these reforms to WADA’s Code Compliance Centre (CCC). The CCC validated the corrective actions and recommended closure of the case. At its September 2025 meeting, WADA’s Executive Committee accepted the CCC’s recommendation, confirming that: “All pending non-conformities by the National Anti-Doping Organization of Pakistan have been resolved. The compliance procedure is hereby closed.”

The decision removed Pakistan from the compliance watchlist and ended enhanced monitoring. “This is not just a bureaucratic victory; it is a lifeline for Pakistani athletes and sports federations,” said DG PSB Yasir Pirzada.

The clearance ensures Pakistan’s athletes can compete under their national flag at global events without the risk of neutral status. It also restores Pakistan’s eligibility to host regional competitions and maintain its role within the global anti-doping community.