The Facts
On Friday, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) warned the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) of "consequences" for allowing North Korea to fly its flag at the ongoing Asian Games in China.
In 2021, WADA declared North Korea's National Anti-Doping Organization "non-compliant" and banned the country's flag at any regional, continental, or world sporting event — excluding the Olympics and Paralympics.
The Spin
Narrative A
It's unfair to threaten the OCA for violating sanctions imposed on North Korea through the pandemic. If the country is attending the Games and winning medals, its players have every right to celebrate the feat. North Korea's long hiatus from the global sporting stage must end.
Narrative B
WADA must continue sanctioning North Korea as Pyongyang has failed to implement an effective testing program and is still not fully compliant with its anti-doping code. The OCA must also be penalized for its failure to enforce its sanction.
