WADA removes National Anti-Doping Organization of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from World Anti-Doping Code non-compliant list

Following a circulatory vote of its Executive Committee (ExCo), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) removed, with immediate effect, the National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) from the list of Signatories that are non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code (Code). 

The non-compliance was the result of non-conformities in implementing an effective testing program following a desk audit in 2020. 

On 14 September 2021, WADA’s ExCo endorsed the recommendation of the independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC) to allege the DPRK NADO as non-compliant. This non-compliance became effective on 7 October 2021 after the DPRK NADO chose not to challenge the allegation as it could have done in line with Article 9.3.1 of the ISCCS. 

On 10 January 2024, WADA management presented updates to the CRC concerning the DPRK NADO’s completion of the reinstatement conditions. On 15 January, the CRC agreed with WADA management that the conditions had been successfully fulfilled. 

There are currently three non-compliant Code Signatories. They are the Russian Anti-Doping Agency, the Olympic Council of Asia and the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation.      

For more information on the Code Signatories and the consequences, please visit the ‘Global list of non-compliant signatories and applicable consequences’ page of WADA’s website.