Asian Games – Hangzhou 2022 – Closing Ceremony – Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, Hangzhou, China – October 8, 2023 A representative of North Korea’s team walks with their national flag during the closing ceremony REUTERS/Tingshu Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights
Nov 18 (Reuters) – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has fined the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) $500,000 for allowing North Korea to fly its flag at the Asian Games in Hangzhou despite it being banned over non-compliance with global anti-doping rules.
WADA banned the flag at all major sporting events, outside the Olympic and Paralympic Games, in 2021 after deeming that North Korea had failed to implement an effective testing programme.
But the flag was displayed throughout the 19th Asian Games in China at the opening ceremony, in the athletes’ village, and at competitions and medal ceremonies.
“It became clear during the Asian Games that the OCA did not take steps to comply with the terms of the DPRK’s non-compliance and that the DPRK flag was repeatedly flown during the entire event…,” WADA said in a statement on Friday.
“Despite repeated reminders from WADA before and during the Games, the OCA refused to comply.”
Reuters has contacted the OCA for comment.
Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Kim Coghill
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