Anti-doping sanctions on Gabon lifted following code compliance
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has lifted doping sanctions on Gabon following its compliance with the anti-doping code.
WADA announced that the Central African nation had been removed from its World Anti-Doping Code non-compliant list in a press release on January 8 after confirmation that the necessary changes to Gabon’s legislation had been executed on 12 December 2023.
“Following a circulatory vote of its Executive Committee (ExCo) that ended on 5 January, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) removed, with immediate effect, the National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) of Gabon from the list of Signatories that are non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code (Code),” said WADA.
“The flag and national anthem of Gabon may once again be raised and performed during international competitions, all disciplines combined,” the Gabonese sports ministry said.
According to the anti-doping governing body, Gabon’s National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) did not include the Code's 2021 version which prompted WADA to add NADO to the code non-compliant watchlist on 17 November 2022.
NADO after failure to execute its corrective action plan within the four months stipulated period were sent a formal notice of non-compliance on 20 March 2023 and was added to the non-compliant list on 11 April 2023.
