North Korea participated in the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, ignoring the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) ban on the use of national flags. WADA is an independent international watchdog established to prevent athletes from using banned substances to enhance performance during competition or training.
The North Korean athletes entered the Asian Games opening ceremony held at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Stadium in China on the 23rd, holding the national flag. Men’s shooting athlete Park Myeong-won and women’s boxing athlete Bang Cheol-mi led the team holding the North Korean flag. Other North Korean players then entered with small North Korean flags in their hands.
Previously, WADA determined in October 2021 that North Korea’s anti-doping agency did not meet international standards. Accordingly, the display of the North Korean flag was banned at international competitions except the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Last May, WADA pointed out through the Voice of America (VOA) that “North Korea is still not complying with its anti-doping code obligations for participation in international competitions.” Due to these restrictions on raising the North Korean national flag, the flags of all participating countries were not flown at the International Taekwondo Federation (ITF) World Championships held in Kazakhstan last August.
On the morning of the 22nd, a day before the opening of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, North Korean athletes are returning to their accommodations waving the North Korean flag after the village entrance ceremony held at the flag plaza of the Hangzhou Asian Games athletes’ village in China. 2023.9.22/News 1However, North Korea is displaying the North Korean flag at the Asian Games athletes’ village entrance ceremony on the 22nd, as well as other sports such as table tennis and soccer. Following the men’s soccer match between North Korea and Taiwan on the 21st, the national flag was also hoisted at the men’s table tennis team stadium between North Korea and Japan on the 22nd. There is also speculation that if North Korea ranks high in the Asian Games, the North Korean flag may be hoisted at the awards ceremony, violating WADA sanctions. North Korea is evaluated as being in the medal range in several sports, including weightlifting, wrestling, shooting, and boxing.
In response to North Korea’s violation of these regulations, WADA recently announced that it could hold Asian Games organizers, including the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), responsible for raising the national flag.
Despite WADA’s ban, the background to the hoisting of the national flag at this Asian Games has not been confirmed. However, some are analyzing whether the friendly relationship between North Korea and China and North Korea’s return to comprehensive international competitions after five years were taken into consideration as the background.
On the morning of the 22nd, a day before the opening of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, the national flag is being raised at the entrance ceremony held at the flag plaza of the Hangzhou Asian Games athletes’ village in China. 2023.9.22/News 1In order to lift WADA’s flag-raising sanctions, corrective measures, such as an inspection by an external monitor of North Korea’s anti-doping agency, are necessary. Up to six on-site visits are required each year, and all costs, including doping tests, must be borne in advance by North Korea. However, corrective measures could not be taken as North Korea closed its borders due to the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19). WADA said through Radio Free Asia (RFA) in the U.S., “If we learn that our measures are not being respected, we will contact the relevant organizations and work to make corrections,” adding, “If necessary, we will take action against organizations that do not implement the results.” “It is,” he said.
North Korea did not participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics held in 2021 due to the aftermath of COVID-19. As a result, he was subject to suspension from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the disciplinary action was lifted on December 31 last year. Afterwards, North Korea returned to the international sports stage by participating in the Asian Games hosted by China, with which it has friendly relations. North Korea dispatched 185 athletes to a total of 17 sports at the Asian Games. It has been five years since the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games to participate in an international multi-sports competition.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.