South Africa is considering an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in its dispute with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), a government source said on Monday, which would suspend sanctions threatening the Springboks during the quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup.
South Africa has until Friday to comply with WADA’s World Anti-Doping Code or face sanctions. They would affect all South African athletes, starting with the world champions, who could be deprived of their jerseys, flag and national anthem during the match against France.
An official from the South African Ministry of Sports told AFP, on condition of anonymity, that “there will be an announcement at the beginning of the week” on this subject. “Among the possibilities considered is an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport,” he added. This appeal before the body based in Lausanne would make it possible to suspend the imposition of sanctions.
Compliance with anti-doping regulations by Friday is impossible because the changes requested by WADA are still being debated by South African lawmakers. The new WADA code came into force in 2021 and only South Africa and Bermuda have not yet brought their national regulations into compliance, according to the international organization.
“We will comply in due time” but “there is no question that we find ourselves in a situation where our teams do not play under the South African flag,” another ministry official assured the South African media. sports. The head of the Federation, Mark Alexander, expressed his anger in the South African media. “We have this problem because our government has failed to pass new legislation. It’s a shame. Heads must roll,” said the SA Rugby president.
For his part, the Springbok forwards coach, Daan Human, assured that the players were “100% focused” on their match against the French, that they must play it “with or without their traditional jerseys, flag or anthem “.
