Luanda - Angola will soon be able to count on national anti-doping bodies in sport to harmonize the rules established in the World Anti-Doping Code.
These are the Authorization of Therapeutic Use and Control of Anti-Doping in Sports bodies, which will be created within the scope of the Proposed Law on Anti-Doping in Sports, approved Thursday in the specialty committee of the National Assembly.
The Therapeutic Use Authorization Committee (CAUT) will be the entity responsible for analyzing, approving or rejecting applications for authorization of therapeutic use, which are in accordance with the International Standard for Authorization of Therapeutic Use.
The organization and functioning of these national Anti-Doping bodies will be regulated by their own statutes.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA ) will have the power to review all CAUT decisions.
Paulo Madeira, executive member of the Angolan Olympic Committee (COA), emphasized that the proposed Law effectively accepts WADA's impositions in relation to the topic of Anti-Doping.
He explained to the parliamentarians that the Angolan technicians worked for around four months with the WADA legal department so that, with the approval of the Law, the country can be in a completely legal situation regarding the issue of anti-doping, which has international treatment.
He made it known that the entities to be created within the scope of the fight against doping in sport will be independent but of a public nature.
According to Paulo Madeira, approval in the Diploma specialty is a good indicator for resolving compliance with the Anti-Doping Law in Sports, in accordance with the rules of the international entity.
Angola misses deadlines established by WADA
Paulo Madeira acknowledged that Angola did not comply with WADA's requirements in a timely manner, and the last extension given to the country to comply with the rules established in the World Anti-Doping Code ended on the 13th of this month (February).
In this regard, he explained that the COA made a communication to the international entity, informing that the Law was already undergoing legislative treatment at the level of the National Assembly.
“We will certainly have the Law approved, published and adopted, so let's hope that we have the capacity to overcome this problem in the next 10 days, of course there are penalties inherent to this situation we are in”, he stressed.
Asked whether until the law is enacted the country will be able to participate in international competitions, he said that, depending on the justification presented, Angola will be able to compete in the events in which it is engaged, but with some constraints.
“There is that issue of us competing without a flag, competing with the flag of the Olympic Committee, this is the situation, but we are working towards the return of what is our dignity as a Sovereign Nation, the technical team and the deputies so that the solution happen as soon as possible”, he said.
The Angolan State has adhered to the International Convention against Doping in Sport and, consequently, to the World Anti-Doping Code, which implies the need for regular adaptation of the Angolan Legal Order to the international legal instruments in force on the matter.
The background report emphasizes the need for the country to continue to promote conduct and moral education of citizens and the protection of the continued health of athletes, support staff and other sports agents, through the fight against the use of prohibited substances and methods.
The Legislative initiative, with six chapters and 74 articles, establishes the Legal regime against Doping in Sport, in harmony with the rules established in the World Anti-Doping Code.
The Act results from an urgent request made by the Government, for Parliament to comment on the Proposed Law on Anti-Doping in Sport.
The World Anti-Doping Agency has scheduled the delivery by the Angolan authorities of the conformation of the Law on Anti-Doping in Sport this month.
WADA is responsible for compiling the World Anti-Doping Code and actively works on anti-doping capacity development, education and scientific research.
The anti-doping program seeks to protect the health of athletes and enable them to pursue human excellence without the use of prohibited substances and methods.
The World Anti-Doping Code was implemented in 2004 by sports organizations after the Athens Olympic Games and standardized the anti-doping rules in all sports and in all countries. DC/SC/ADR/DOJ
