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Madagascar becomes 177th country to ratify UNESCO Anti-Doping Convention

2014-11-26 10:02 WADA

November 25, 2014 - The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is pleased to announce that Madagascar has become the 177th country to ratify the International Convention against Doping in Sport.

Madagascar - whose signature follows on from that of Congo in September 2013 – is the 46th government to ratify the convention from within the African region. There remain just 18 countries globally that are yet to ratify the convention.

The International Convention against Doping in Sport, which was adopted on 19 October 2005, is the practical instrument by which governments formalize their commitment to the fight against doping. Given that many governments cannot be bound by a non-governmental document such as the World Anti-Doping Code, the Convention allows governments to align their domestic policies with the Code, thus harmonizing the rules governing anti-doping in sport and public legislation.

Under UNESCO standards, the Convention has set records in terms of the speed with which it was prepared, adopted and ratified. The result is that 98% of the world’s population has now pledged its commitment to the fight against doping in sport.

WADA President, Sir Craig Reedie: “WADA is delighted that we now have 177 countries who have officially accepted the International Convention against Doping in Sport. I would like to personally thank the Madagascar Minister of Youth and Sport, Mr. Jean Anicet Andriamosarisoa, and his administration for their commitment to the anti-doping cause.

“We are edging ever closer to global ratification of this Convention, and we at WADA will continue to work tirelessly in the coming months to encourage the remaining 18 countries to provide their formal backing to clean sport by signing the Convention,” he added.

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