World Anti-Doping Agency President Witold Banka attends the opening press conference for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris on July 25.
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Michelle Oyler/AP
PARIS — A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation Tuesday that would cut future U.S. funding for the World Sports Anti-Doping System unless sweeping reforms are made.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which receives $3.7 million a year in US funding, has faced growing criticism over its handling of the case involving 23 Chinese swimmers.
“I think WADA has an extremely bad reputation. I don’t think their position is sustainable,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), one of the bill’s co-sponsors.
“Unfortunately, WADA has failed in its role.”
WADA officials confirmed they learned of the positive doping test ahead of the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics.
It accepted China’s explanation that the athletes had accidentally taken banned substances and did not conduct an independent investigation.
Doping watchdogs subsequently kept the matter secret until it was exposed by The New York Times in April of this year.
The Times later reported two cases of Chinese swimmers returning positive sports doping tests that WADA had not made public.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said her office has attempted to contact WADA officials directly to seek clarification on how the drug testing is being handled.
“Instead of working with us to ensure a level playing field, WADA has worked against us at every turn,” Blackburn said.
If passed, the bill would allow the White House to withhold funding equivalent to about 8 percent of WADA’s $46 million annual budget unless reforms are made.
Lawmakers at the press conference noted that Dr Rahul Gupta, director of the US Office of National Drug Control Policy, is a member of WADA’s executive committee but was not informed about the China case until shortly before the scandal broke.
“If there’s a cover-up, that’s a big problem,” said Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.). “We’re getting the facts out there.”
Eleven Chinese athletes allegedly involved in the incident are scheduled to compete in the Paris Summer Olympics.
“The Gold Medal of Intimidation”
Tuesday’s press conference was a clear indication that U.S. lawmakers are not intimidated by the International Olympic Committee’s threats.
Last week, the IOC warned that it could revoke its accreditation to host the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, if the United States continues to pursue multiple investigations into WADA’s operations.
Speaking in Paris, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) director-general Witold Banka supported the IOC’s move and said US concerns were part of a power play aimed at expanding the influence of US authorities.
“It is extremely unfair for one country to try to impose its anti-doping decision-making power on the rest of the world,” Banka said.
Rep. Mulenaar on Tuesday called the IOC’s threats over the Salt Lake City Olympics “the gold medal of blackmail.”
Senator Blackburn also blasted international sports officials for trying to “force the US to drop the FBI investigation into its doping scandal”.
“Our message is simple: we will not be silenced for promoting fair play,” she said.
Chinese and Olympic flags fly during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on Feb. 4, 2022. In the two years before the World Anti-Doping Agency cleared 23 Chinese swimmers of doping allegations, the Chinese government contributed about $2 million in additional funding to WADA’s program, including to bolster the agency’s investigative and intelligence division.
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Sports scandals linked to worsening U.S.-China relations
The doping scandal comes as Olympic athletes compete in Paris and against a backdrop of growing distrust between the United States and China.
US lawmakers today repeatedly suggested China was exerting improper influence over WADA.
“I feel that threat. [to cancel the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics] “This document was written in Beijing,” said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.).
“We may not be able to hold (Chinese Communist Party) officials accountable, but we can hold foreign conspirators accountable,” Moulenaar said.
Travis Tygart, head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, the sports body that monitors doping among American athletes, said in an interview Tuesday that he also believes Chinese authorities have improperly influenced WADA.
“Why is China getting special treatment?” Tygart said. “Why doesn’t China have to announce these cases like other countries? Even if it’s accidental contamination, why doesn’t WADA investigate?”
WADA officials have denied the accusations and said China’s doping cases had been dealt with appropriately. Chinese athletes competing in Paris have also denied using performance-enhancing drugs.
“The Chinese government always says about our team that our model is clean and our results are clean. Our current results are the result of hard work and training,” Chinese freestyle swimmer Fei Liwei told reporters on Saturday.
Former U.S. Olympian Michael Phelps testifies at a congressional hearing examining anti-doping measures ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Washington on June 25, 2024.
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But U.S. athletes have expressed anger and distrust over WADA’s response. At a House of Representatives hearing last month, former Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps said eroding confidence in the anti-doping system could paralyze the Olympic movement.
“If we let this go any longer, we may not have the Olympics,” Phelps testified.
