President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has decided that the Maldives National Anti-Doping Agency will operate under an independent board.
The President made the appointment of the agency referred to in Article 38(a) of Act No. 30/2015 (Sports Act) under the authority of Article 116(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of Maldives. The decision was formally communicated today through a Presidential Directive.
The First Amendment to the Sports Act, passed by the President on 19 May last year, aims to ensure equality for all in the field of sports.
Under the amendment, the Maldives National Anti-Doping Agency will operate under an independent board appointed to implement policies to control the use of prohibited substances in sports, as stipulated in Article 38(a) of the Sports Act.
The Maldives National Anti-Doping Agency, which was previously administered by the Ministry of Sports, Fitness and Recreation, will now be placed under an independent board. The Government and any other agency will not have the authority to influence the agency’s operations.
Speaking to PSM News Minister of Sports, Fitness and Recreation Abdulla Rafiu said the move will ensure fair and equal opportunities for athletes and bring the Maldives in line with the UNESCO Convention and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Anti-Doping Code. He added that the decision will play an important role in shaping the country’s sports sector in accordance with international best practices. He further said the reform will align national sports activities with globally accepted standards.
A bill to comply with the UNESCO Convention and the WADA Anti-Doping Code was adopted at the Second World Conference on Doping, held in Copenhagen on 3 March, 2003. The bill has since been signed by 191 countries, with the Maldives signing the agreement on 14 October.
Under the agreement, countries are required to comply with the UNESCO Convention and share all relevant information with WADA, including details on anti-doping practices, policies, and regulations.