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≡ WADA ELECTIONS ≡
As expected, the World Anti-Doping Agency re-elected President Witold Banka (POL) and Vice President Yang Yang (CHN), each for a final, three-year term of 2026-28, both running unopposed.
The WADA Foundation Board voted, in an online meeting, 36-0 for Banka with two abstentions and 38-0 for Yang. Said Banka:
“In our final term, we are committed to continue strengthening the global anti-doping system by elevating the athlete experience; expanding the impact of our science, development, compliance and intelligence work and much more. We look forward to working collaboratively with WADA leadership and staff, and our stakeholders around the world, to meet our shared objectives and exceed them – together, transparently and with the sole purpose of protecting clean sport.”
WADA – and Banka – continue to face headwinds caused by the agency’s handling of the 2021 Chinese swimming mass-positives incident, leading to a continuing, angry tug-of-war with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and dues withheld by the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy.
In a post on X, USADA did not mince words:
“With this election, WADA has pulled the ultimate ‘bait and switch’, first promising governance reforms following the Russian anti-doping scandal and then quietly changing the rules the second the world looked away. Not only did WADA agree to an unprecedented third term for the current government/sport-appointed WADA President and Vice President, but it has made a mockery of meaningful independence by further protecting the incumbents, using sport to block a viable candidate and turning the election into a coronation.
“All this at a time when athletes’ and the public’s confidence in the global anti-doping system is at its lowest in 25 years due to WADA’s inconsistent and uneven enforcement of the rules in the China swimming cases and others.”
Banka shot back:
“If we talk about the U.S., I would say that we are open to cooperation, including with the White House authorities. We have repeatedly said that we must work hand-in-hand in the interests of American athletes, but it is difficult to work with [USADA head Travis] Tygart. It is difficult to cooperate with someone whose goal is to attack WADA.
“He always finds a reason to attack WADA, so it is difficult to work with someone who believes in conspiracy theories, including the one that we helped cover up the positive doping tests of 23 Chinese swimmers. He does nothing in the interests of anti-doping, he only travels the world and attacks WADA.”
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Banka continued his campaign against the pro-doping Enhanced Games, to be held in May 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada:
“I find it hard to imagine responsible doctors who would administer steroids that are dangerous to the health of athletes and monitor their condition at the same time. This is absolutely unethical, it is against the rules, it is against medical values. I simply cannot imagine responsible doctors who would do this.
“We also call on anti-doping organizations and other structures to test athletes who decide to participate in these Games, to test them with all the ensuing consequences. In addition, signals are coming from sports federations, and some have already announced that participation in this tournament will close their path back to normal international competitions. I think these are quite serious consequences, I think this is a good idea.”
This is one area where Banka and his detractors remain on the same page.
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