The World Athletics Executive Committee has approved the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) Executive Committee recommendations regarding the consequences and corrective measures to be imposed on the Bahrain Athletics Association (BAA) following historic breaches of World Athletics' Anti-Doping Rules (ADR).
In December 2023, the AIU Executive Board issued a Notice of Charges against the BAA following an 18-month extensive AIU investigation into the BAA's compliance with ADR 15, which imposes anti-doping obligations on World Athletics member federations in addition to those of the World Anti-Doping Code.
The investigation was triggered by serious anti-doping rule violations by two BRN athletes regarding allogeneic blood transfusions at the Tokyo Olympics and the discovery that a coach employed by the BAA from 2019 to 2021 as a national team coach had in fact been banned from competition for anti-doping rule violations.
BAA was charged with the following offences:
Acting negligently and/or recklessly in relation to doping and/or acting in a manner prejudicial to World Athletics' interests or bringing athletics into disrepute (in breach of ADR 15.4.1);Failing to take reasonable steps when employing athlete support personnel to ensure their character and reputation and to minimise the risks of doping associated with their employment (in breach of ADR 15.4.6).
BAA cooperated with the AIU throughout the process, admitted the charges and agreed to the following outcomes:
The BAA's participation in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and Tokyo 25 World Athletics Championships will be limited to a maximum of 10 athletes. The BAA will not participate in any other events in the World Athletics Series for 12 months from 1 June 2024. The BAA will not apply for any transfers of allegiance until 2027, nor will it recruit any foreign athletes. The BAA will spend up to $7.3 million over four years on the following measures to address doping and integrity risks in athletics in Bahrain: Implement a detailed Strategic Plan and Operational Roadmap (SPOR) agreed with the AIU and reform the federation to properly manage integrity issues. The BAA will ensure that an independent, WADA-compliant Bahrain National Anti-Doping Agency is established in Bahrain and is fully funded by the Bahraini government until at least the end of 2026 (the BAA has taken this step, and NADO has now been fully operational for one year). The BAA will establish and fund a Talent Academy that will prioritize local talent development. The BAA will pay the costs of investigating and overseeing the AIU's implementation of the SPOR.
The financial commitment to transform Bahrain's federations, sporting development and health is welcomed and is strategically targeted to address the following deficiencies identified in the Bahraini system:
The creation of a NADO, where none existed before, is a welcome achievement with great benefits in managing doping risks for BRN athletes going forward. The creation of the Talent Academy clearly signals a major shift in direction for the BRN to focus on identifying and developing domestic talent and not relying solely on foreign player recruitment. Transforming the BAA itself in accordance with the very strict requirements of the Strategic Plan and Operational Roadmap (SPOR) will ensure proper governance and processes for managing integrity risks going forward. This will be a good model for other federations, especially those in the region. A moratorium on new transfers of allegiance and the recruitment of foreign athletes is appropriate, ensuring that systems within the BRN are transformed by the time recruitment resumes.
David Howman, chair of the Athletics Integrity Unit, said: “The BAA should be commended for its sincere remorse for past misconduct and its commitment to change. Indeed, much of the federation reform work began voluntarily in 2023 as soon as senior BAA leaders became aware of the issues uncovered in the AIU investigation. The BAA has cooperated fully with the investigation and has led the development of the strategic plan and operational roadmap needed to effect real change in the federation and across the sport. The establishment of a new NADO in Bahrain is a particularly significant achievement for clean sport.”
While the BAA clearly failed to exercise control and oversight over matters within its sphere of influence, it should be noted that the Federation's senior leadership was not involved in any deliberate breach of rules and, indeed, was keen to recognise and address organisational failings as soon as possible.
In the AIU Board's view, the matter has been resolved satisfactorily, having appropriately balanced the need for disciplinary action to send a strong message with the aim of effecting real change within the Federation and the sporting world.
World Athletics Championships
