WADA confirms non-compliance of the Tunisian National Anti-Doping Organization

Further to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA's) release of 8 April, WADA wishes to provide an update regarding the compliance status of the Tunisian National Anti-Doping Organization (ANAD). 

At its meeting of 16 November 2023, WADA’s Executive Committee (ExCo) endorsed the recommendation of WADA’s independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC) and alleged ANAD as non-compliant with immediate effect. The non-compliance was the result of its failure to fully implement the 2021 version of the World Anti-Doping Code (Code) within its legal system.  

In the days following the ExCo, ANAD provided a clear calendar for adoption of the amendments which are required to bring the Tunisian legal framework in line with the Code within four months. At the same time, critical corrective actions from an audit conducted in March 2023 were signed off. On this basis, the CRC updated its recommendation to the ExCo for inclusion on the ‘watchlist’. This was approved by the ExCo on 6 December 2023.  

By placing ANAD on the ‘watchlist’, as per Article 8.4.5 of the International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS), if ANAD failed to correct its outstanding non-conformity by 6 April 2024, WADA would automatically send ANAD a formal notice alleging non-compliance with the Code and proposing consequences and reinstatement conditions.    

At the end of the watchlist period, the non-conformities were still not resolved. Therefore, as per Article 9.2.3 of the ISCCS, on 8 April 2024, WADA sent ANAD a formal notice of non-compliance. ANAD had 21 days following the date of receipt of the formal notice to dispute WADA’s allegation of non-compliance and/or the consequences and/or the conditions of reinstatement proposed by the Agency, failing which it would be deemed to have accepted the allegation of non-compliance, in line with Article 9.3.1 of the ISCCS.  

ANAD did not dispute WADA’s allegation of non-compliance, the proposed consequences or the proposed reinstatement conditions within 21 days of WADA’s allegation of non-compliance. As a result, the alleged non-compliance is deemed admitted and the consequences and reinstatement conditions deemed accepted. Accordingly, the formal notice sent to ANAD on 8 April 2024 is now a final decision enforceable with immediate effect.  

As recommended by the CRC and approved by WADA’s ExCo, in accordance with Code Article 24, ISCCS Article 10 and Annex B of the ISCCS, the following consequences and reinstatement conditions are imposed on ANAD.  

A separate note will be sent to other Code Signatories to assist them in implementing the consequences applicable to ANAD.  

Non-compliant Code Signatories  

There are currently three other non-compliant Code Signatories, namely the Angola National Olympic Committee (acting as a NADO), the Russian Anti-Doping Agency and the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation. For more information on these Code Signatories and their respective consequences, please visit the ‘Global list of non-compliant signatories and applicable consequences’ page of WADA’s website.