WADA Declares Cameroon Anti-Doping Agency Non-Compliant
August 05, 2024The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has confirmed the non-compliance of Cameroon's national anti-doping organization, adding the African nation to a list of sanctioned entities that currently includes Russia and an international fitness federation.
The Organisation Camerounaise de Lutte contre le Dopage dans le Sport (Cameroon NADO) was officially declared non-compliant after failing to address deficiencies in its anti-doping program within the required timeframe, WADA announced in an update following its July 12 release.
The compliance issues stem from unresolved non-conformities identified through WADA's Code Compliance Questionnaire exercise. WADA's Executive Committee had placed Cameroon NADO on a compliance "watchlist" on March 11, 2024, following a recommendation from the agency's independent Compliance Review Committee.
Under the International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories, the watchlist designation gave Cameroon NADO four additional months to execute corrective measures and bring its anti-doping program into compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code.
When the July 11, 2024 deadline passed without the necessary corrections, WADA automatically issued a formal notice of non-compliance on July 12, as mandated by the compliance standards. Cameroon NADO was given 21 days to dispute the allegation, proposed consequences, or reinstatement conditions.
The organization did not respond within the required timeframe, effectively accepting the non-compliance determination and associated sanctions. The formal notice has now become a final decision with immediate effect.
WADA has imposed specific consequences and reinstatement conditions on Cameroon NADO in accordance with Code Article 24 and related compliance standards. The agency stated it will notify other Code Signatories to assist them in implementing the applicable consequences.
Cameroon joins the Russian Anti-Doping Agency and the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation as the third entity currently deemed non-compliant with WADA's anti-doping code. Information about all non-compliant signatories and their respective consequences is available on WADA's website.