(ATR) The world governing body of amateur Mixed Martial Arts is done waiting on the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The IMMAF announced Tuesday that it has resumed its legal action against WADA, with the case to be heard at the Tribunal d’Arrondissement in Lausanne on January 14.
The federation had agreed in August to a WADA request for a four-month postponement of its Sept. 4 appeal to a decision by the Swiss civil courts that allows WADA to deny IMMAF’s application for signatory status.
But the IMMAF Board of Directors "unanimously rejected" a further five month extension for WADA to review the current procedure for a sport organization to become a signatory.
"We regret that we have to take legal action, but it seems to be the only way to force this issue," IMMAF CEO Densign White said in a statement.
As it stands, WADA says it cannot grant the status until the IMMAF is given at least observer status by GAISF (Global Association of International Sports Federations).
"WADA should be a fully independent body but maintain that they need a green light from GAISF to accept IMMAF as a signatory," White says.
"We continue to wait for GAISF to consider our application for Observer status. As a WADA code compliant sport, we should also be a WADA signatory. Without this status IMMAF’s sanctions are easily bypassed to the detriment of our athletes, their safety and Clean Sport."
WADA toldAround the Ringsit cannot comment on a pending case.
The IMMAF and World Mixed Martial Arts Association (WMMAA) merged in 2018, creating a single federation for the sport and thus eliminating the biggest hurdle for GAISF membership. But GAISF has continued to deny recognition and the IMMAF has not ruled out legal action if that stance doesn’t change.
Written by Gerard Farek
For general comments or questions,click here.
Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.
Recent Articles
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons
Beyond the final result, Roland Garros left the feeling that the Italian and the Spaniard will shape the great duel that came to help us through the duel for the end of the Federer-Nadal-Djokovic era.
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024
She is the third in her sport and the seventh athlete to achieve it in the same edition; in Santiago 2023 she was the first athlete with disabilities to compete at the Pan American level and won a medal.
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris
Argentinian Rodrigo Isgró received a five-game suspension for an indiscipline in the circuit’s decisive clash that would exclude him until the final or the bronze match; the Federation will seek to make the appeal successful.
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years
The Kenyan received the maximum sanction for irregularities in his biological passport and the Court considered that he was part of a system of “deliberate and sophisticated doping” to improve his performance. He will lose his record and the bronze medal at the Doha World Cup.
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”
The American, a seven-time Olympic champion, referred to the case of the 23 positive controls before the Tokyo Games that were announced a few weeks ago and shook the swimming world. “I think our faith in some of the systems is at an all-time low,” he said.
