BKA ‘negligent’ in players’ whereabouts violations

Kuala Lumpur, Mar 28, 2014: Badminton Korea Association (BKA) has been found negligent and fined USD $40,000 regarding the Whereabouts anti-doping violations for which players, Kim Ki Jung and Lee Yong Dae, were sanctioned earlier this year.

A BWF Disciplinary Committee determined that BKA breached the BWF Anti-Doping Regulations – which BKA admitted – and that BKA failed in its duty of care for these two players through administrative failure, thereby contributing to the three strikes against the players which made them ineligible.

The charges against BKA related to negligence in communication with the players and BWF about necessary information; failing to educate BKA players and staff on essential elements of the Whereabouts and Anti-Doping Programmes and making false representation to BWF by communication, without proper consent and communication from Kim and Lee.

The Committee also strongly recommended that BKA makes Korean players responsible for updating their own Whereabouts information in the WADA online ADAMS system since players are ultimately responsible for failures under the WADA Anti-Doping Code and BWF Anti-Doping Regulations. Additionally, BKA has been advised to seek support from the Korea Anti-Doping Agency on establishing an enhanced anti-doping framework, including educating BKA players, coaches, team managers and other staff about the Whereabouts Programme and relevant obligations under the BWF Anti-Doping Regulations.

The BKA, which was also ordered to refund BWF for the cost of the players’ missed tests (Clause 12.2.3), has 21 days to appeal.

In January, Kim and Lee were sanctioned for one year each for accumulating three Whereabouts failures under the BWF Anti-Doping Regulations (Section 2.4), as part of BWF’s Registered Testing Pool of International Level badminton athletes. At that time, BKA’s failure to make diligent efforts to keep BWF informed of the players’ Whereabouts was noted and it was recommended that BKA also be sanctioned under the BWF Anti-Doping Regulation (12.1 and 12.2.3). —- BWF