It is a question of wording in the legislation rather than any material breach of policy but South Africa have been dragging their heels since January 2021 on becoming compliant with World Anti-Doping codes.
Having been issued a deadline of Friday which they are unable to meet there had been the threat of the embarrassment of their playing with no flag and no national anthem in their Rugby World Cup Quarter final against france on Sunday night.
That has now been avoided by the South African Government appealing to the Court of Arbitration in Sport and thereby suspending sanctions while that appeal is in process.
Sporting sanctions always raise significant debate and are normally an effective way of forcing behavioural change but if they are to be applied they have to be so in full to have the desired effect.
Russian athletes could yet compete at next year’s Olympic Games, breaching the sanctions policy imposed on that country for their actions in Ukraine.
Israel’s games against Switzerland and Kosovo in the Euro 2024 Qualifiers this week have been postponed but that is more on safety and travel grounds rather than a political judgement.
South Africa will now fly the flag in Paris, and belt out the national anthem with pride, while the country still remains in technical breach of World Anti-Doping.
That is not a good look for the country, the team or the crusade for clean sport.
Lynne Cantwell, who head up South African Women’s rugby while at the same time as sitting on the Sport Ireland Board will similarly be spared the embarrassment of being questioned about it at the Women’s XV2 tournament taking place in South Africa this weekend.