ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been taken off the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) watchlist and is no longer under monitoring for possible sanctions, state media said on Friday.
The country was placed on the list last year for “outstanding non-conformities” with WADA’s updated anti-doping code and was warned to meet key requirements by January 2025 or risk its athletes being banned from competition.
WADA said the compliance procedure against Pakistan’s anti-doping agency was closed after all corrective actions were completed, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
“This is not just a bureaucratic victory,” the news agency quoted Director General Pakistan Sports Board Yasir Pirzada as saying in its report. “It is a lifeline for Pakistani athletes and sports federations.”
APP said Pakistan enforced measures ranging from policy alignment to procedural reforms to meet global standards.
WADA promotes, coordinates and monitors the fight against doping in sports. It works with governments, sports bodies and labs worldwide to ensure fair play and athlete health.
Doping in sports refers to the use of banned substances or methods to enhance performance and giving athletes an unfair advantage.
It undermines fair competition, poses serious health risks and damages the integrity of sport. Anti-doping agencies worldwide conduct testing and enforcement to ensure a level playing field.
Pakistan competes internationally in cricket, hockey, football, squash, wrestling, boxing, athletics, weightlifting and shooting apart from sending athletes to the Olympics, Paralympics and regional events like the South Asian Games.
