Philippines faces flag ban in Paris Olympiad

WITH the Games of 2024 Paris Olympics scheduled sometime in August, the country’s athletes are facing a risk to be banned from displaying, while competing in any event, the national flag in their respective uniforms and in the podium stand following it’s non-compliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code.

The said non-compliance warning was contaIned in a letter sent by WADA to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) dated January 23, asking the government sports agency to address the outstanding task that would conform as stated in the WADA Code Compliance Questionaire.

The WADA warning was brought to.PSC attention through the Philippine National Anti-Doping Agency Phinado) since last September last year, thus should have given the PSC ample time to comply with the said requirement.

The Montreal-based WADA has given the PSC until February 13, despite the deadline already expired last Monday (January 22), to dispute the international doping agency’s allegation of non- compliance or face the consequences of non-compliance and or the reinstatement conditions as proposed by WADA.

“Should the outstanding non- conformities not be solved, January 22, 2024, the Philippine Sports Commission would be automatically alleged as non-compliant by WADA’s Executive Committee,” saId the notice by WADA Director General Olivier Niggli

The international doping regulatory body has likewise urged PSC to comply with the code on developing and implementing effective, intelligent and proportionate Test Distribution Plan and include all Registration Testing Pool athletes room sports or disciplines, among others.

The WADA pinpointed the case of an athlete who yielded positive anti-doping results in 2016 but was never notified by the PSC or it’s anti-doping arm.

“If the PSC does not dispute any of these elements in writing to WADA, within 21 days from the date of this Formal Notice, the allegation of non-compliance will be deemed admitted, the consequences of non-compliance and the reinstatement condition proposed by WADA will be deemed accepted,” said Nigli.

Should the PSC failed to comply, sanctioned includes a ban on the Philippine flag to fly in all major international competitions and a ban on the country from hosting region, continental nd world championships.

Th country is facing consequences to lose its WADA privileges and funding a ban of ny Filipinos to sit as member of the boards or committees or other bodies of any signatory, members or association of signatories of the world agency.