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≡ INTEL REPORT ≡
The ongoing war of words between the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency has boiled over, according to a new report from the German ARD channel’s doping watchdog team.
A new feature on Sunday’s “Sportschau” program explained:
“There is growing resentment about how the World Anti-Doping Agency is handling the suspected doping case involving the 23 Chinese swimmers. 18 leading national anti-doping agencies – including from France, Germany and Japan – have sent a joint letter with questions and demands to the international supervisory organisation.”
ARD’s doping editorial team, led by Hajo Seppelt, quoted the head of the German anti-doping agency, Lars Mortsiefer concerning the actions (and inactions) of the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency in regard to the positive tests of 23 Chinese swimmers for trimetazidine in January 2021 that resulted in no provisional suspensions and eventually no sanctions at all:
“We can see that an institution, a NADO, has not adhered to the rules set out in the World Anti-Doping Code.
“And in this context, it was important to us that the consequences of this are also independently investigated.”
The story also quotes the heads of the anti-doping agencies of France and South Africa, and further noted the current status of the WADA-USADA feud:
● “WADA have confirmed to the ARD doping editorial team that they have filed a lawsuit in Switzerland against the United States Anti-Doping Agency, USADA, for defamation.”
● It was further reported that WADA is not allowing in-person participation of USADA personnel on WADA committee or commission meetings, but only online.
● There is concern that the incoming Trump Administration will delay or refuse to pay its agreed-on WADA dues – as it did previously – in view of what it may be considered to be inappropriate bias against the USADA.
The USADA posted a furious reply on 20 November to WADA’s September “response” letter to the Central European Anti-Doping Organisation (CEADO); the WADA letter questioned the competence, efficiency and political motives of the U.S. agency.
USADA posted two letters, from USADA Board Chair Dr. Tobie Smith and from USADA chief executive Travis Tygart. Smith’s letter included:
“[T]the CEADO Chair directly and through the NADO [Expert Advisory Group] has now engaged in an informed, fact-based discussion, bringing to light the extent of the falsehoods in CEADO’s letter to you, which we now understand was prompted by WADA. The baseless and defamatory claims outlined in your letter and the CEADO letter are being revealed for what they are – a politically motivated diversion to undermine the credibility of USADA and to attempt to weaken trust in the U.S. sports governance at the very time the world is demanding answers from you as to why you allowed China to violate the rules.”
The ARD story indicates that the heated atmosphere over the USADA frustration concerning the handling of the 2021 Chinese doping incident is now spreading to anti-doping organizations elsewhere, increasing the pressure on WADA and specifically its President, Witold Banka (POL) and Director General Olivier Niggli (SUI).
WADA has confirmed previously that USADA’s status is being considered by the organization’s Compliance Review Committee. At the end of all the talk, it is possible that WADA could move toward a suspension of USADA, which – if implemented – would have follow-on effects, including a ban on the holding of major international events in the country until reinstatement.
That would directly impact the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and the 2034 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, but possibly also the 2026 FIFA World Cup and many smaller events.
The next act in the drama comes on 5 December in Riyadh (KSA), where the WADA Executive Committee and Foundation Board – including Dr. Rahul Gupta from the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy – are scheduled to meet.
Beyond that will be the attitude toward all of this by the next IOC President, to be elected in March at the IOC Session in Greece.
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