The Department still regards the South African Doping Control Laboratory (SADoCol) as a strategic national asset in anti-doping. SADoCol is the only Doping Control Laboratory accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in the African Continent. The proper and effective operations of the SADoCol is therefore critically important for the country, the region and the entire continent.
The Acting Director General is planning to meet SADoCol at least by 15 October 2019 to continue with the co-operative work undertaken to date.
The Department has previously provided WADA with the letter of intended support to SADoCol.
It is the intention of the Department to register SADoCol as a sporting body to enable the Department and Government in general to work with and support the Laboratory on Anti-doping matters.
It should be noted that the final status of incorporation for SADoCol will have to be in line with the WADA prescripts which seeks to safe guard the independence of the Doping Control Laboratory from external influence.
Recognizing the strategic significance of the SADoCol as outlined in (1) above, the Department remains committed to support the Laboratory.