By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Filipino athletes and sports officials can now heave a sigh of relief after the World Anti-Doping Agency has cleared the Philippines from its compliance watchlist.
In a statement posted on its website, WADA said that corrective actions undertaken by the Philippine National Anti-Doping Organization (PHI-NADO) have been corrected and that the pending compliance procedure has been closed.
A separate email to PHI-NADO head Dr. Alejandro Pineda has also been issued of the current development.
“I am pleased to confirm that in light of the latest developments, the Compliance Review Committee has decided to sign off the remaining pending critical corrective actions relating to testing and results management,” WADA’s Chief Compliance Manager Emiliano Simonelli stated in the email.
“As a result the compliance procedure has now been closed and the case will not be filed before the Court of Arbitration for Sport,” he added.
Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Richard Bachmann expressed his gratitude to the WADA and the PHI-NADO and stressed that the country will continue its advocacy in building a sporting venue free from any doping activities.
“We would like to thank WADA for all the support to resolve all issues. The PSC in coordination with PHI-NADO will continue to make improvements and propose the proper legislation in compliance with the WADA Code 20.5.1 to avoid future issues,” Bachmann said.
Concerns that the Philippine flag may now be flown in major international events like the Olympics surfaced in January after PHI-NADO and the PSC received a warning notification on the country’s alleged non-compliance of the WADA Code.
PHI-NADO and the PSC, however, disputed the allegations and submitted a position paper explaining the case being questioned was not under their jurisdiction.
They also worked on corrective actions based on code compliance in order to fulfill WADA’s requirements, and even sought help from the Office of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
