Brazil Publishes Anti-Doping Code

(ATR) The Brazilian government published a new anti-doping code bringing the country in line with World Anti-Doping Agency standards.

The code was published on March 17, less than 24 hours before the deadline set by WADA for countries to become compliant with the WADA code. Brazil’s national anti-doping organization was one of six countries placed on a compliance "watch list" by the WADA Foundation Board in November. All countries had a deadline of March 18 to ensure their NADO’s codes were compliant with WADA.

For Brazil to be compliant, a new independent tribunal needed to be created to handle anti-doping appeal cases. This was established in Article 62 of the new code.

Nine justices will make up the new Anti-Doping Sports Court (TJD-AD). The requirements for the justices laid out by the new code say the justices must have "anti-doping and legal knowledge, and an unblemished reputation."

The TJD-AD will be based in Brasilia and have jurisdiction over all sport disciplines in all competitions in Brazil, including professional leagues. Three justices will be appointed by the national governing sports bodies, three by athletes' unions, and three by the Federal Government.

By publishing the new code Brazil guarantees that all anti-doping tests during the Olympic Games will be handled by the newly-accredited Rio de Janeiro anti-doping laboratory. The lab was accredited in 2015, which meant that all samples taken during the 2014 World Cup needed to be tested outside of Brazil.

Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro

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