The World Anti-Doping Agency and US officials and media outlets are engaged in a public-relations battle over the handling of positive cases from China’s swimming team. On Tuesday, two more athletes were added to the list of suspects in the ongoing 2024 file.
According to The New York Times, one of these athletes will compete in the current Paris Olympics after being cleared by Chinese authorities. The Chinese Anti-Doping Agency claims that the detected steroids were accidentally ingested through contaminated food, rather than intentional doping. However, anonymous sources cited by the US newspaper allege that one of the athletes was a repeat offender, having previously tested positive for a banned drug enhancer in late 2020 and early 2021.
The case initially caused global outrage, with the US Anti-Doping Agency, athlete-led pressure groups, and even the US Congress all expressing concern. Despite diplomatic efforts to ease tensions, the International Olympic Committee was forced to intervene and threatened to revoke Salt Lake City’s hosting of the 2034 Winter Games. The head of WADA, Witold Banka, has also been critical of the American side, suggesting that American athletes should be subject to more rigorous drug testing.
In response to calls for reform after the latest case involving two swimmers, WADA stated that this was part of a larger issue, with other athletes from various sports also testing positive for the steroid methandienone in late 2022 and early 2023. These cases were all subject to investigation, which concluded in late 2023 and found that the positive results were likely due to meat contamination. The athletes were provisionally suspended during this time, and after the investigation, the cases were closed without any violations being asserted.
Despite this, USADA chief Travis Tygart has been vocal in his criticism, stating that the global anti-doping system has failed and that WADA has allowed China to operate under its own rules. The International Testing Agency, which reviewed the case, believes that the International Federation should have appealed the Chinese decision to clear the swimmers, but the Federation denies receiving any such recommendation. WADA has also expressed concern about the number of cases that have been closed without sanctions, particularly when the contamination theory cannot be challenged.
However, despite calls for an end to the hostility, WADA has faced ongoing criticism and been caught in the middle of political tensions between superpowers. They maintain that they have no involvement in these tensions and are focused on maintaining the integrity of the anti-doping system.
