Article 22    Interpretation of the Code

Article 22    Interpretation of the Code

22.1    The official text of the Code shall be maintained by WADA and shall be published in English and French. In the event of any conflict between the English and French versions, the English version shall prevail.

22.2    The comments annotating various provisions of the Code shall be used to interpret the Code.

22.3    The Code shall be interpreted as an independent and autonomous text and not by reference to the existing law or statutes of Signatories or governments.

22.4    The headings used for the various Parts and Articles of the Code are for convenience only and shall not be deemed part of the substance of the Code or to affect in any way the language of the provisions to which they refer.

22.5    Where the term “days” is used in the Code or an International Standard, it shall mean calendar days unless otherwise specified.

22.6    Where the term “shall” is used in the Code or an International Standard, it means a mandatory obligation that must be adhered to; where the term “should” is used in the Code or an International Standard, it means something is considered a best practice or is encouraged to be followed but is not mandatory.

22.7    The Code shall not apply retroactively to matters pending before the date the Code is accepted by a Signatory and implemented in its rules. However, pre-Code anti-doping rule violations would continue to count as "First violations" or "Second violations" for purposes of determining sanctions under Article 10 for subsequent post-Code violations.

22.8    The Purpose, Scope and Organisation of the World Anti-Doping Program and the Code and Appendix 2, Definitions, shall be considered integral parts of the Code.