Asian Games bosses fined HK$3.8 million for flying North Korea flag in Hangzhou, despite country’s drugs ban
- World Anti-Doping Agency had banned secretive country’s flag over failure to implement testing procedures
- North Korea weightlifters emerged from Covid lockdown to win six golds and smash six world records at Games in China
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) has fined the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) US$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 drug 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.
Missing from international competition for the past several years, North Korea’s weightlifters made a stunning return to the world stage in Hangzhou, winning six gold medals and smashing six wold records.
“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.
“Despite repeated reminders from WADA before and during the Games, the OCA refused to comply.”
Reuters has contacted the OCA for comment.
