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Philippines risks possible flag ban in Olympics for PSC's non-compliance with WADA code
The Philippines is at risk of getting its flag not flown in the Paris Olympics, and all regional and continental sporting events such as the Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games, due to the non-compliance of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code.
In September 2023, the PSC, through the Philippine National Anti-Doping Agency (Phinado), was ordered to address the country's non-conformities to the said code.
According to a release by the Philippine Olympic Committee, it cited that WADA pinpointed a case of an athlete who yielded a positive anti-doping result in 2016 but wasn’t notified by the PSC or its anti-doping arm.
PSC also received a notice from WADA last January 23, following up the government sports body about the non-conformity.
“Should the outstanding non-conformities not be solved by 22 January 2024, the Philippines Sports Commission would be automatically alleged as non-compliant by WADA’s Executive Committee,” said the notice signed by WADA Director General Olivier Niggli.
WADA then gave the PSC until February 13 to dispute “WADA’s allegation of non-compliance and/or the consequences of non-compliance and/or the reinstatement conditions proposed by WADA.”
In order to avoid getting slapped with a ban, the PSC has to comply with the code on developing and implementing effective, intelligent and proportionate Test Distribution Plan and include all Registered Testing Pool athletes from sports or disciplines, among others.
Aside from the ban, part of the consequences include suspension of the Philippines from hosting regional, continental, and world championships, and Filipinos being prohibited from WADA's boards, committees, or being signatories of the agency.
The ban was in effect for two years, which saw Russian athletes play under the ROC flag in the Tokyo Olympics, as long as they are clean.
—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News
