WADA refers compliance case against Nigerian NADO to CAS

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has referred the Nigerian National Anti-Doping Agency, NADO, to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS, following its non-compliance with the international anti-doping agency’s code following an  audit in 2022.

This followed WADA’s Executive Committee endorsement of the recommendations of its independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC) and allege the National
Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) of Nigeria as non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code (Code).

The alleged non-compliance in the Nigeria case is due to the NADO still not addressing several critical requirements to its anti-doping program following an
audit carried out by WADA in late 2022.

Under Article 9.3.1 of the International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS), the Nigerian NADO had 21 days following the date of receipt of
the formal notice of non-compliance to dispute WADA’s allegation of non-compliance, as well as the consequences and/or the reinstatement conditions proposed
by the Agency.

Prior to that 21-day deadline, WADA received formal notification from the the Nigerian NADO that they disputed the allegations of non-compliance against
them, as well as the proposed consequences.

Accordingly, and in line with Article 24.1.7 of the Code, WADA has now publicly announced that it filed the request for arbitration with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on 9 February 2024.

If found guilty, Nigeria will, among other sanctions, not be awarded the right to host regional, continental and World Championships, and Events organized by Major Event Organizations, until the reinstatement conditions are met.

The Nigerian flag will not be flown at regional, continental and World Championships, and Events, organized by Major Event Organizations icluding at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.