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The government has just over a week to get its anti-doping legislation in line with the requirements of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) or face possible sanctions.
According to reports on Thursday, this may include national teams not being allowed to participate under the national flag and not being permitted to sing the national anthem.
In a recent report in the Daily Maverick, they stated the government had missed a January 2021 deadline to update its anti-doping act to bring it in line with the latest Wada code.
A spokesperson for the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, said on Thursday that the Department would provide an update in due course
In a statement late last month in response to Wada, Minister Zizi Kodwa, said: “We have worked tirelessly to amend legislation as recommended by WADA”.
“There has also been input by WADA in working with us to draft the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) Amendment Bill, which will now be taken through the South African Constitutional process of finalising a Bill,” he said.
He also reassured athletes, sports federations, and the sports public that the non-compliance finding would not affect drug testing in South African sports.
“SAIDS will continue to deliver services that protect clean sport in South Africa,” Minister Kodwa said.
He said in the statement on 28 September, that he had “officially communicated with WADA President Witold Banka on South Africa’s position, and have requested to meet with him urgently”.
Kodwa said the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture will continue to expend all efforts to get the Amendment Bill adopted expeditiously.
Wada had reportedly set a new deadline of 13 October for compliance.
