Anti-Doping Bill to be debated to establish Drug-Free Sport Fiji

Parliament will debate the Anti-Doping Bill 2024 on Thursday which will provide the legal framework for the establishment of the Drug-Free Sport Fiji as a national anti-doping organisation.

The Bill was tabled today by Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights, Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure.

While tabling the Committee’s report, Ratu Rakuita says the Bill also establishes and mandates the Drug-Free Sport Fiji to formulate, draft and implement proper frameworks, rules and educational material on anti-doping in sports.

He says the main objective of the Drug-Free Sport Fiji is to ensure the proper implementation of compliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency Code by creating a more accountable framework which will provide strategic direction, and guide and monitor the development of clean sports in Fiji.

He also says given Fiji's geographical size, the sudden influx of doping in sports has increased significantly amongst athletes, unless a national anti-doping organisation is established, it is certain that Fiji will remain vulnerable to doping in sports.

The Committee Chair says the Drug-Free Sport Fiji will be the overarching body established through the legislative frameworks of the UNESCO Convention Against Doping and the World Anti-Doping Agency Code which converges all efforts to promote clean sports.

Ratu Rakuita says the Drug-Free Sport Fiji will be an independent body, free from the influence and interference of government and sports federations.

He says it will provide a clear and national regulatory, law enforcement, policy and programme delivery response to doping in sports, and the set-up of the organisation will ensure Fiji is in compliance with the World Anti-Doping Standards and Frameworks.

He further says it will also allow Fiji to participate in future internationally world-sanctioned sports events, and the organisation will work in close collaboration with international anti-doping agencies, sporting bodies and relevant stakeholders to ensure that our anti-doping efforts align with global practices and uphold the principles of fair play.

Ratu Rakuita adds that the delay of the review was due to miscommunications, and these were two separate legislations that were proposed for adoption.

The Committee Chair says they are suggesting that the person with limited sporting background and experience would be an eligible member of the Drug-Free Sport Fiji Board, and the Committee observed that an individual committing an offence could face a fine of $10,000 or a two-year prison term.

He says it was also noted by the Committee that there is no existing legislation that permits the Minister to criminalise an athlete for offences committed.

Ratu Rakuita says the Committee believes that an athlete should not be criminalised for such offences but should instead face fines or a lifetime ban if they violate any anti-doping regulations.

He says the Committee was of the view that there should not be further inclusion of personal officers as suggested by the public given that the more people involved, the more risk it poses to the tampering of evidence.

He also says there were other matters noted from this initial deliberation, which included the issue concerning the player welfare within the Bill, the issue of whether there are sufficient facilities available to conduct anti-doping testing in Fiji, the issue of whether there is an association of players established in Fiji, the absence of appeal process to cater for athletes that have tested positive.

He adds the Committee noted in the current drafting of the Bill that the Drug-Free Sport Fiji stands as a judge, jury and executioner.

He further adds the rationale of the Fiji Police Force involved in the investigation process when the Drug-Free Sport Fiji already has the mandate to investigate matters relating to anti-doping.