The director of rugby for South Africa, Rassie Erasmus, said on Tuesday that he was glad that the Springboks will be able to compete against France in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal at the weekend.
In a statement on Tuesday, Zizi Kodwa, the country’s Sport Minister, said the country had appealed a WADA decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
WADA had given South Africa until Friday to update its anti-doping legislation, but it was almost certain to miss the deadline.
At Sunday’s clash against the host nation in Paris, the Springboks would have been prohibited from flying their flag and playing their anthem.
Kodwa said the appeal with CAS should “stave off” the effects of the WADA decision, sparing the World Cup holders a major embarrassment.
The dispute was subsequently put to rest for the time being when WADA confirmed that South Africa would be permitted to fly their flag until CAS has fully heard the case.
Asserting that “the allegation of non-compliance is put on hold and the consequences will not apply until such time as CAS makes its ruling,” the Montreal-based agency said it had received formal notification of the appeal.
