2023-10-04 20:26:42
We didn’t see that one coming. While waiting to know their opponents, probably the French XV, the Springboks saw a strange piece of information circulating in the media this Wednesday: South Africa could be deprived of its flag and its anthem for the rest of the Cup of the world due to non-compliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Explanations.
On September 23, WADA held its second meeting of the year in Shanghai, China. During this summit, the organization took stock of the list of products banned in 2024, but also of compliance with the world anti-doping code. And this is where South Africa is failing.
Without an anthem against the Blues?
In a statement, WADA announced that two National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) had been declared non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code. “The NADOs in question are those of Bermuda and South Africa,” explains the agency. In detail, the South African government did not respect the deadline set to amend a law on drug-free sport, which had become obsolete and non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code which entered into force in 2021.
???? South Africa has less than 10 days to comply with the World Anti-Doping Code or the Springboks will be unable to fly the country’s flag at the #RWC2023
The SA government has not met a deadline to amend the outdated drug-free sport act to comply with the latest World… pic.twitter.com/vkdomG2S2V
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) October 4, 2023
But what happens next? Under article 9.3.1 of the International standard for compliance with the Code by signatories (SICCS), South Africa has 21 days from the date of receipt of the formal notice of non-compliance (i.e. September 23) to contest WADA’s assertion, as well as the consequences and/or the conditions of reintegration proposed by the Agency. So that brings us to October 13, the day before the quarter-final weekend. If South Africa finishes second in their group behind Ireland as expected, they should play their quarter-final, potentially against the Blues, on Sunday October 15 at 9 p.m., at the Stade de France.
Until then, if the South African national anti-doping organization does not comply with the standards, it exposes its nation to sanctions in all sports. This applies to the Rugby World Cup as well as the Cricket World Cup which begins this week in India. Among the sanctions mentioned in South African mediathe Springboks could play under a neutral banner, without a flag and without being able to sing their anthem “Nkosi Sikelel’iAfrika”.
#Rugby #World #Cup #South #Africa #anthem #flag #quarterfinals