South African rugby spectators are expected to fly the South African flag in their numbers at the Stade de France this Sunday, after WADA (The World Anti-Doping Agency) confirmed the country will be free to hoist its flag at sporting events until the Court of Arbitration for Sport has formally heard an appeal against it.

The Minister of Sport Zizi Kodwa yesterday announced the country would lodge an appeal against WADA’s decision that the country is not compliant with its anti-doping code.

On 22 September 2023, WADA’s Compliance Review Committee recommended that current South African legislation is non-compliant with the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code. This was later endorsed by WADA’s executive committee.

Kodwa says since that announcement, the Department has pulled out all the stops to resolve the non-compliance by getting the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) Amendment Bill adopted expeditiously.

He says the Bill was presented to Cabinet last week, and it was also approved shortly afterwards. It will now be tabled in Parliament.

Kodwa also instructed SAIDS to file a notice to challenge WADA’s non-compliance declaration against South Africa through the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS).

The sanction as it pertains to the flying of the national flag has created unnecessary hysteria and punished athletes and players unfairly who are competing for the pride of South Africa.

The filing of the Appeal will stave off the consequences of the non-compliance as it applies to the flying of the South African flag at regional, continental and World Championships and Events.

This means that the flying of the South African flag at events such as the Cricket and Rugby World Cups will not be affected until CAS rules on this challenge.

Kodwa also revealed that the issue of singing the national anthem has been conflated with this non-compliance matter, and that a ban on the singing of the national anthem was never in question.

WADA has acknowledged it had received formal notification from South Africa that it disputes the allegation of non-compliance against it, as well as the proposed consequences.

WADA will shortly refer the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for its consideration. As such, the allegation of non-compliance is put on hold and the consequences will not apply until such time as CAS makes its ruling.