WADA confirms non-compliance of the Olympic Council of Asia

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirms that, effective immediately, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), a Major Event Organizer (MEO), has been declared non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code (Code). The OCA was declared non-compliant due to failure to implement an October 2021 decision by WADA’s Executive Committee.  

As a consequence of the decision to declare the National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) as non-compliant in October 2021, the DPRK flag cannot be flown at major events, including the 2023 Asian Games held from 23 September – 8 October in Hangzhou, China. All MEOs, including the OCA, were informed of the decision and of their obligations to implement this consequence at their events. It became clear during the Asian Games that the OCA did not take steps to comply with the terms of the DPRK’s non-compliance and that the DPRK flag was repeatedly flown at the event. Despite repeated reminders from WADA before and during the Games, the OCA refused to comply. 

On 16 November 2023, WADA sent the OCA a formal notice of non-compliance. As per Article 9.3.1 of the International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS), the organization in question had 21 days following the date of receipt of the formal notice to dispute WADA’s allegation of non-compliance and/or the consequences and/or the conditions of reinstatement proposed by the Agency. 

The OCA did not dispute WADA’s allegation of non-compliance, the proposed consequences of non-compliance or the proposed reinstatement conditions within 21 days. As a result, the alleged non-compliance is deemed admitted and the conditions accepted. Accordingly, the formal notice sent to the OCA on 16 November 2023 is now a final decision. 

The specific consequences and reinstatement conditions for the OCA can be found here. WADA will monitor the implementation of the consequences listed above.