WADA confirms non-compliance of DIBF

On 7 October 2021, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirmed that, effectively immediately, the Deaf International Basketball Federation (DIBF) has been declared non-compliant with the WADA Code. Before this decision was taken, the WADA and the ICSD were striving to settle the case with the DIBF status of a Code Signatory.

From the International Federation (IF) side, the DIBF failed to implement the 2021 version of the Code within its legal system, either through its anti-doping rules. At the same time, the status of an ICSD associate member granted to the DIBF implicated that it was the latter's sole responsibility in adopting Art. 6.3.2 of the ICSD Constitution "All ICSD members shall abide by ICSD anti-doping rules in all competitions." This article remained disregarded by the DIBF over the last ten (10) years.

The sole option satisfying involved parties, WADA, ICSD, and DIBF, was that DIBF remained compliant with the ICSD Constitution. However, in the communication of 30 September, the DIBF management expressed its intention in promoting international deaf basketball under the Code other than ICSD Anti-Doping Rule.

As a result, the assertion of non-compliance is deemed admitted and the conditions accepted. Accordingly, the formal notice sent to the DIBF on 15 September 2021 is now a final decision.

Consequences for DIBF
1. This Signatory loses its WADA privileges until reinstatement (ISCCS Annex B.3.1(a)).

2. Representatives are ineligible to sit as members of the boards or committees or other bodies of any Signatory (or its members) or association of Signatories until the Signatory is reinstated or for one year, whichever is longer (ISCCS Annex B.3.1 (d)).

3. Representatives are excluded from participation in or attendance at; and the athletes and athlete support personnel participating in the International Federation's (IF's) sport (or in one or more disciplines of that sport) may be excluded from participation in or attendance at regional, continental, or international multisport events organized by Major Event Organizations (other than the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games) for the next edition of that event or until reinstatement, whichever is longer (ISCCS Annex B.3.1 (f.1)).

4. Representatives will be excluded from participation in or attendance at the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and/or any other multisports event for the next edition of that event (summer or winter, where relevant) or until reinstatement, whichever is longer (ISCCS Annex B.3.1 (f.2)).

WADA will also monitor the implementation of the consequences listed above by the ICSD and other Code Signatory organizations and may take compliance measures if a Signatory fails to implement them in full.