President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed new legislation to ensure that South Africa’s anti-doping laws meet global standards. This move comes shortly after he led the African National Congress (ANC) to its worst election performance in 30 years.
The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport Amendment Bill, reported by BusinessTech, guarantees that the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) adheres to the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA) through several key amendments. WADA coordinates the global fight against doping in sports.
The updated legislation officially designates SAIDS as the national anti-doping organization, operating under the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
Springboks and Proteas Avoid Flag and Anthem Ban
According to The South African, both the Springboks (Rugby World Cup) and Proteas (Cricket World Cup) faced the risk of being barred from flying the South African flag and singing the national anthem due to missing a WADA deadline to update their anti-doping laws. The short notice made it impossible for the country to meet the deadline on time.
Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa, instructed SAIDS to file an appeal, which allowed the teams to continue representing South Africa under the national flag and anthem while the legislative updates were completed.
Thanks to these efforts, the Springboks and Proteas were ultimately permitted to fly the South African flag and sing “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika” at their respective World Cups.
