North Korea opts out from Asian Para Games 2022 after APC disallows flag to be flown

North Korea is amidst a sporting controversy yet again. This time it is the Paralympic Committee which has meted out one of the harshest bans for North Korean athletes. Earlier, in October 2021, North Korea did not comply with the doping regulations of the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA). Subsequently, the WADA instructed the Asian Paralympic Committee not to allow the flag of the DPRK at this global event. The Asian Para Games officially begin in Hangzhou with the opening ceremony on Sunday. Although some wheelchair basketball, badminton, boccia and lawn bowls events will start as early as Thursday. The multi-sport tournament ends on Oct. 28.

Why did North Korea withdraw from the Asian Para Games 2022?

“I can confirm that NPC DPRK has withdrawn from the Games,” a spokesperson for the Asian Paralympic Committee told the Korea JoongAng Daily in an email Wednesday. The incident was referring to the National Paralympics Committee of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the country’s official name. This came against the backdrop of a failed doping test of the WADA codes. “They took this decision after they were informed by the Asian Paralympic Committee that, as stipulated by WADA, the country flag of DPRK would not appear at any venues during the Asian Para Games as DPRK is non-compliant with the WADA code.”
 “Whilst we are sorry that their athletes won’t be in Hangzhou, the Asian Paralympic Committee is a signatory to the WADA code and therefore needs to implement their rulings.”

The incident happened after North Korea was declared non-compliant by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in October 2021. On the other hand, according to the North Korean authorities, there was a lack of transparency or outside inspection of the North Korean anti-doping association. Subsequently, this tussle between both parties has grown ten-fold. As a consequence, the North Korean flag is banned from being flown at any major sporting event other than the Olympics and Paralympics.

Moreover, according to the Asian Paralympic Committee, North Korea is a signatory to the WADA rules. Therefore, they are required to follow all the doping tests that are there. Earlier, North Korea competed at the Hangzhou Asian Games despite the aforementioned sanction. This was because the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) actively chose to ignore the WADA ban. As a result, the North Koreans were allowed to compete under its own flag. However, the OCA is also a signatory of WADA. Naturally, it won’t be a surprise if WADA decides to punish or censure the former for allowing the North to use the flag in Hangzhou. However, the Asian Paralympic Committee is an entirely separate organization. Therefore, it has its own free will to follow the warning or not.

2022 Asian Para Games

The 2022 Asian Para Games, is a multi-sport event that is on the same line as the 2022 Asian Games. Interestingly, this will be the 4th edition of the event. Hangzhou will be the second Chinese city to host the Asian Para Games, after Guangzhou in 2010. There will be around 22 sports on offer with 556 gold medals up for grabs. Moreover, there will be around 43 National Para athletes taking part in these games.

Read more news about athletics over here:

• World Athletics seeks clarity on Delhi Athletics Championship incident
• Asian Games 2022: India shines in Athletics with four medals on October 2
• European Athletics U20 Championships Stats: What are the records set at the event?
• Athletics Stats: Winners of Paris Diamond League 2023

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