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WADA confirms non-compliance of the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness

ifbb non compliance

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirms that, effective today, the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) has been declared non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code (Code).

The non-compliance is the result of non-conformities in implementing an effective testing program and devoting sufficient resources to the development of a compliant anti-doping program in all mandatory areas.

This development follows the decision of WADA’s Executive Committee (ExCo), at its meeting of 23 September 2022, to endorse the recommendation of the independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC) to assert this International Federation as non-compliant with the Code.

As per Article 9.2.3 of the International Standard for Code Compliance by Signatories (ISCCS), on 23 September 2022, WADA sent the IFBB a formal notice of non-compliance. The IFBB had 21 days following the date of receipt of the formal notice to dispute WADA’s assertion of non-compliance, as well as the proposed consequences proposed by the Agency, in line with Article 9.3.1 of the ISCCS.

The IFBB did not dispute WADA’s assertion of non-compliance, the proposed consequences of non-compliance or the proposed reinstatement conditions within 21 days from WADA’s assertion of non-compliance. As a result, the asserted non-compliance is deemed admitted and the conditions accepted. Accordingly, the formal notice sent to the IFBB on 23 September 2022 is now a final decision.

As recommended by the CRC and approved by WADA’s ExCo, in accordance with Article 11 and Annex B.3.1 of the ISCCS, the following consequences are imposed on the IFBB:

1. The IFBB loses its WADA privileges until reinstatement (ISCCS Annex. B.3.1(a)). This includes the following:

  • In accordance with the relevant provisions of WADA’s Statutes, IFBB representatives shall be ineligible to hold any WADA office or any position as a member of any WADA board or committee or other body, including but not limited to membership of WADA’s Foundation Board, ExCo, any Standing Committee, and any other committee.
  • The IFBB shall be ineligible to host any event hosted or organized or co-hosted or co-organized by WADA.
  • IFBB representatives shall be ineligible to participate in any WADA Independent Observer program, WADA Athlete Outreach program or other WADA activities.
  • The IFBB shall not receive any WADA funding (either directly or indirectly) relating to the development of specific activities or participation in specific programs.

2. All of the IFBB’s testing-related activities will be subject to supervision by an approved third party, at the IFBB’s expense, including up to six site visits a year, with all costs to be paid in advance, where known (ISCCS Annex B.3.1 (c)).

3. The IFBB’s representatives shall be ineligible to sit as members of the boards or committees or other bodies of any Code Signatory (or its members) or association of Signatories for a period of one year from the date of the formal notice or until the IFBB is reinstated, whichever is longer (ISCCS Annex B.3.1 (d)).

4. The IFBB’s representatives will be excluded from participation in or attendance at, and the athletes and athlete support personnel participating in the IFBB’s sport (or in one or more disciplines of that sport) will be excluded from participation in or attendance at, regional, continental or international multi-sport events organized by Major Event Organizations (other than the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games) until reinstatement (ISCCS Annex B.3.1 (f.1)).

5. The IFBB’s representatives will be excluded from participation in or attendance at the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and/or any other multi-sport event until reinstatement (ISCCS Annex B.3.1 (f.2)).

Throughout this process, WADA will continue to provide guidance and support to the IFBB to solve its non-conformities. WADA will also monitor the implementation of the consequences listed above by other Code Signatory organizations and may take compliance measures if a Signatory fails to implement them in full. More guidance on the practical implementation of these consequences will be provided in a separate message to the relevant categories of stakeholders