The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) expressed “deep concern” over the arrest of the director of Tunisia’s anti-doping agency and called for his “immediate and unconditional release.”
Yesterday, Monday, according to public reports, the president of the Tunisian swimming federation and the director of the national anti-doping agency were detained pending a judicial investigation after being shown a Tunisian flag during an international demonstration over doping.
The problem worsened after the Tunisian flag was hidden with a piece of cloth during the Tunisian Masters Swimming Championships, under sanctions from the World Anti-Doping Agency. Tunisian President Kais Saied ordered the swimming federation’s offices to be dissolved and officials including the director-general of the national anti-doping agency to be fired after an angry visit to the pool. Friday night.
A total of nine people have been charged in the case, including two officials arrested since Saturday, while seven others were arrested in He was invited to appear in court yesterday Monday.
Juini added that the suspects face charges of “conspiracy to endanger the internal security of the country”, “forming an (organized) gang to carry out attacks and causing chaos” and “damaging the Tunisian flag”.
However, the World Anti-Doping Agency, based in Montreal, Canada, regretted the arrest “given the excellent progress that has been made” to bring Tunisia back into compliance with international anti-doping laws, adding that lifting it was possible “in the near future” Sanctions were imposed in early May.
The sanctions include not allowing the Tunisian flag to be flown at the Olympic and Paralympic Games until the country returns to WADA’s jurisdiction, in addition to not being allowed to host regional, continental or world championships.
