Springboks And Proteas Under Threat Of Facing SA Flag, Anthem ‘Ban’ At World Cup
The Springboks and the Proteas, South Africa’s national rugby and cricket teams, are facing the possibility of playing important matches under neutral colours due to the government’s failure to comply with anti-doping regulations. According to a report by Daily Maverick, the South African government missed the deadline to update the anti-doping act in line with the latest World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) code.
The revised code, which was accepted by over 700 sporting federations worldwide, came into effect in January 2021. However, Wada confirmed in September that the South African government had not yet updated its anti-doping code, resulting in potential consequences for the country’s national teams.
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A new deadline of 13 October has been set for the government to update the code. If they fail to do so, the Springboks and the Proteas may not be allowed to participate under the national flag or sing the national anthem. These consequences highlight the importance of compliance with anti-doping regulations in international sports.
The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (Saids), an independent body overseeing anti-doping programmes in the country, had warned the government about the need for updates a year ago. However, the government cited the thorough and comprehensive process of promulgating legislation, stating that any amendments must align with the South African Constitution and not contradict existing laws.
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Sports Minister Zizi Kodwa expressed the government’s commitment to anti-doping in sports and acknowledged Saids’ efforts to comply with global standards. He communicated with Wada President Witold Bańka and requested an urgent meeting to address the situation.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is determined to expedite the adoption of the Amendment Bill to ensure compliance with international anti-doping standards. The government recognizes the importance of anti-doping, anti-corruption, governance reforms, child safeguarding, and data protection in global sports.
