Former WADA chief claims that doping investigation possibly to cost American Olympics
Date
7/18/2024 4:31:47 AM
(MENAFN) Dick Pound, former president of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), has cautioned that the United States risks losing its ability to host the 2028 Summer and 2034 Winter olympics if its investigation into Chinese swimmers for alleged doping violations breaches international legal boundaries.
The controversy emerged after reports by the New York Times and German state broadcaster ARD in April alleged that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for banned substances ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Despite these findings, the athletes were permitted to compete after Chinese authorities attributed the positives to inadvertent exposure through contamination, a claim subsequently accepted by WADA.
The handling of the case drew criticism from the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), accusing global counterparts of inadequately addressing the positives and potentially undermining the integrity of upcoming international events, including the Paris Olympics set to commence soon.
Recent reports from United States media outlets indicated that the United States Justice Department had initiated a criminal investigation into the matter under the 2020 Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act. This legislation extends United States jurisdiction to international sports events involving American athletes or financial ties to the United States, prompting concerns from WADA regarding its compliance with established anti-doping protocols.
In response to the probe, WADA expressed disappointment, citing apprehensions about the implications of the Rodchenkov Act and its potential impact on international sporting governance.
Commenting on the legal scrutiny surrounding the Chinese swimmers, Pound emphasized to Reuters that the Rodchenkov Act's application in this context raises compliance issues with the anti-doping code, highlighting ongoing tensions between United States legal mandates and international sporting regulations.
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