Luanda - Angola has been banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) from using national symbols, such as the anthem and the flag since the 13th of February due to delays in approving the Anti-Doping Law in sport.
According to the president of the Angolan Olympic Committee (COA), Gustavo da Conceição, who was speaking to the press, at the “Gold'2023 Champions Gala, such suspension can easily be lifted as long as WADA receives the promulgated document against doping in Angolan sport.
Failure to comply promptly, according to the COA leader, could worsen the sanctions, such as preventing the country from organizing international competitions, as well as ending the mandates of Angolans in international institutions.
It is estimated that the Anti-Doping law will be approved on the 28th, in order to quickly inform WADA of its existence and wait for the suspension to be lifted.
On September 22, 2023, the World Anti-Doping Agency issued a statement, reporting Angola's non-compliance, and granted another four months to correct the outstanding situations.
However, the deadline of January 22, 2024 passed without the compliances having been corrected and not even Angola contested the allegations of non-compliance.
A WADA document confirms the country's suspension for failing to meet the deadlines for conforming its sports law to the statutes of that international organization.
A note from the organization, sent to the COA, states that the country has lost the privileges guaranteed by the organization until its reintegration.
Meanwhile, representatives from Angola will be ineligible to hold any WADA position and the COA will not be eligible to host any event organized or co-organized by the institution.
It is recalled that, at the urgent request of the Angola's Executive, the proposed Law on Anti-Doping in Sport in Angola was approved on Friday (16) in detail and unanimously by the deputies to the National Assembly (AN).
With the favorable votes of the political parties, the legislative diploma goes, on February 28th, to the final global vote in the plenary of the National Assembly.
The document, which began to be discussed, in general, at the beginning of this month, at the 3rd Extraordinary Meeting of the 2nd Legislative Session of the 5th Legislature of the National Assembly, aims to harmonize the legal regime for the fight against doping in sport with the International Convention against Doping and the Worldwide Code with the ordinary legislation in force.
These facts occur at a time when the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games are approaching, where Angola has been an active competitor. JAD/MC/CF/DOJ
