Israel is no longer deemed non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code ©Getty Images

Israel has been removed from the list of countries deemed non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code after the drafting and adoption of new rules, it has been announced. 

The country was one of six to be sanctioned the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Foundation Board meeting in Colorado Springs last November due to failing to have sufficient anti-doping rules in place.

Andorra was also deemed non-compliant for similar reasons, while Argentina, Bolivia and Ukraine were each included on the list for using non-accredited laboratories for their urine and blood sample analysis.

Russia was the other country on the list, following a recommendation in the WADA Independent Commission report, which published allegations of state-supported doping within Russian athletics as well as the involvement of the FSB secret police in the testing programme.

Israel has now become the first country to have been removed the from the list following a circular vote of the Foundation Board members.

This is because the Anti-Doping Committee of Israel has now "drafted and adopted anti-doping rules in line with the Code".

Israel has suffered comparatively few positive doping cases compared with many other countries, but one involved Soviet-born javelin thrower Vadim Bavikin who, after enjoying a best finish of 10th at the Tokyo 1991 World Championships, tested positives for steroids in 1994 and was banned for four years. 

Russia is among other countries deemed non-compliant with WADA following the findings of the Independent Commission, chaired by Richard Pound (centre) ©Getty Images
Russia is among other countries deemed non-compliant with WADA following the findings of the Independent Commission, chaired by Richard Pound (centre) ©Getty Images

WADA does not have the right to directly ban or impose further punishments on countries deemed non-compliant, and merely has the power to report the declarations to the Sports Movement and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Other bodies, however, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), can issue sanctions.

Brazil, Belgium, France, Greece, Mexico and Spain were also placed on a compliance "watch list" at the meeting in November and will have to prove they have met certain compliance criteria by March 18.

If these conditions are not met, the independent Compliance Review Committee will recommend that they also declared non-compliant.

That could have major ramifications for Brazil's hosting of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympics Games and France's staging of the Euro 2016 Football Championships, as WADA does have the right to recommend a country ineligible to bid for or host events.