Lebanon has finally signed the agreement of the UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport, becoming the 191st country in the world to do so.
The convention, adopted in October 2005, guides governments around the world in formalizing their commitment to fighting against doping in sports.
It helps align anti-doping legislation, regulations, and rules internationally so that all athletes can play under a fair playing environment.
The convention also supports the implementation of anti-doping education programs and promotes anti-doping research.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirmed that Lebanon had ratified the convention last week. The country was among the remaining 5 states that had yet to sign it.
There are now only 4 countries around the world that have not completed the ratification of the UNESCO convention.
“I would like to congratulate the Lebanese government for this serious demonstration of commitment to anti-doping,” said Polish politician Witold Bańka, the president of WADA, who deemed the ratification to be “a cause for celebration.”
“The UNESCO convention allows governments of the world to align their domestic laws and policies with the World Anti-Doping Code, which in turn creates synergy between the rules governing anti-doping in sport and national legislation,” he explained.
Notably, under UNESCO standards, the convention set records in terms of the speed with which it was prepared, adopted, and ratified.
