Luanda - The Anti-Doping Law in Sport, approved in March 2024, will be discussed again today (23), in general, by the Plenary of the National Assembly, as there was some misalignment between what is provided for in the legislation and what is required in international regulations.
The bill was requested in an urgent process, by the Head of the Executive Power, in order to make a slight adjustment in the misalignments that may lead to international sanctions, including the exclusion of national athletes from international competitions and the loss of opportunities for international sporting events.
The amendment of the Law aims to align national legislation with the applicable international standards, especially with the World Anti-Doping Code and the rules of the International Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The proposal also aims to adjust to the national social, cultural and sporting reality, as well as to harmonize it with the International Convention against Doping in Sport and the World Anti-Doping Code.
With the approval of the bill, the Executive wants to continue to promote and conduct a cultural and moral education of citizens, the protection of the health of athletes, support staff and other sports agents, through the fight against the use of prohibited substances and methods or violation of anti-doping rules in sport.
The Draft Law also aims to contribute to the education and training of athletes and other sports agents, in relation to the issue of the fight against doping in sport.
The document contains, among other matters, the prohibition of doping, the responsibilities of the practitioner, the list of prohibited substances and methods, access to control during and outside sports competitions and the medical treatment of the athlete.
Angola misses deadlines
The Angolan Olympic Committee (COA) has been suspended by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for failing to meet the deadlines to adapt the sports law to the statutes of that international organization.
With this suspension, the Angolan flag will not be able to be flown in international competitions, in addition to the COA being prevented from hosting or organizing any events and its representatives being ineligible for positions in the AMA.
This decision will remain in place until the Angolan Sports Law is in accordance with the statutes of the anti-doping umbrella organization, which will then have to reinstate the COA, which functions as the national anti-doping organization in Angola.
It all happens a few months before the Paris2024 Olympic Games, for which Angola has already secured qualification in the modalities of handball, in women's seniors, rowing, with the athlete André Matias, and canoeing, with Manuel António and Benilson Sanda.
In the document, the world body explained that on September 22, 2023 it issued a statement reporting the non-conformities on the part of Angola, giving four more months to change them, without these corrections having happened. DC/ART/DOJ
