Spain have failed to comply with the world anti-doping code, with the absence of a government preventing its application, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Saturday.
Spain, Mexico, Belgium, France, Brazil and Greece had been given until March 18 to implement rules compliant with the WADA Code which came into effect on January 1, 2015. All sorted out their problems apart from Spain and Mexico.
“The National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) of Spain and Mexico, however, have not resolved their respective issues, and are therefore declared non-compliant with the Code,” WADA said in a statement.
Countries declared non-compliant risk losing accreditation for their testing laboratories and their athletes and country being banned from competing in or hosting major events including the Rio Olympics in August.
However, given the unusual circumstances, WADA said agreements will be reached to allow Spanish athletes to compete at the Olympics.
“While the Spanish NADO has been declared non-compliant, WADA recognises that there is currently no sitting government in the country, and therefore understands the difficulties the country is facing with resolving its outstanding issues at this time,” the statement continued.
“As it relates to testing in Spain during non-compliance, an agreement is being reached for testing to be carried out by International Sport Federations. This will ensure that effective testing programmes can be run in the lead up to the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
The Spanish Agency for the Protection of Health in Sport (AEPSAD) thanked WADA for their understanding.
“AEPSAD wants to thank WADA for their understanding with respect to the current Spanish political situation,” it said in a statement.
“Moreover, AEPSAD wants to point out the work of WADA in setting up collaboration agreements with international sports federations to ensure the drugs tests of Spanish athletes, especially those that have been pre-selected for the 2016 Rio Olympics and Paralympics.”
Spain has been locked in political paralysis since December’s elections, leaving a hung parliament divided among four main parties, none of them with enough seats to govern alone.
WADA added that “while the Mexican NADO has been declared non-compliant, WADA acknowledges the Government’s recent efforts; and, is hopeful that the necessary work will be completed in the very near future”.
Olympic hosts Brazil, also currently embroiled in political turmoil, have met the necessary WADA requirements but have been given three months to implement the new code.
“The Brazilian NADO has met the necessary requirements, which included the establishment of a unique Brazilian anti-doping tribunal and the implementation of the Code within the Brazilian legal system,” WADA said.
“However, it is important to note that the Brazilian Parliament must still affirm the Presidential decree and other related activities must be completed within the next 120 days.”