WADA adds Bermuda National Anti-Doping Organization to compliance ‘watchlist’

As part of a circulatory vote that ended yesterday, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA’s) Executive Committee (ExCo) approved a revised recommendation of the Agency’s independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC) to add the Bermuda National Anti-Doping Organization (Bermuda NADO) to WADA’s compliance ‘watchlist’¹.

On 22 September 2023, the ExCo followed the CRC’s recommendation to allege the Bermuda NADO as non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) due to a failure to appropriately implement the Code into their legislation.  

In the days following the ExCo, the Bermuda NADO provided draft amendments to the legislation that WADA confirmed were in line with the Code, as well as a clear calendar for adoption of those amendments within four months. On this basis, the CRC has updated its recommendation for inclusion on the ‘watchlist’. As per the International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS), by adding the Bermuda NADO to the ‘watchlist’, the ExCo has given it four months to execute its corrective action plans. If by 12 February 2024 the non-conformities have not been corrected to the satisfaction of the CRC, the Bermuda NADO will be alleged as non-compliant without the need for a further decision by the ExCo.

The CRC is responsible for providing independent advice, guidance and recommendations to WADA Management and governing bodies on matters relating to Signatories' compliance with their obligations under the Code. The CRC Chair, Mr. Henry Gourdji, will report to the next meetings of the ExCo and Foundation Board that will be held on 16 and 17 November 2023.

Note:

(1) Under ISCCS Article 8.4.5, if a World Anti-Doping Code Signatory has provided a Corrective Action Plan that explains to the satisfaction of the CRC how the Signatory will correct its Non-Conformities within four months, then the CRC may recommend to WADA’s ExCo that it decide (a) to give the Signatory that period (starting to run from the date of the Executive Committee’s decision) to correct the Non-Conformities, and (b) that the formal notice described in ISCCS Article 8.4.4 shall be sent to the Signatory upon expiry of that timeframe (without the need for a further decision by the ExCo) if the CRC considers that the Non-Conformities have not been corrected in full by then.