USADA urges WADA reform following Chinese swimming scandal

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency is calling for a major overhaul of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in light of its handling of a Chinese doping case involving 23 swimmers who tested positive before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. USADA is demanding an independent prosecutor to review the case and ensure justice is delivered.

The Chinese swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned substance, but were not punished as WADA accepted the explanation that their samples had been contaminated. USADA believes that the swimmers should have been provisionally suspended and is pushing for a full review of how they escaped punishment.

USADA’s CEO, Travis Tygart, emphasized the need for confidence in the global anti-doping system ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. He stated that it is unfair for athletes to compete against those who tested positive and had their results kept secret.

WADA, on the other hand, defended its handling of the case, stating that there is no evidence to challenge the contamination scenario provided by Chinese authorities. They also highlighted that external counsel advised against appealing the case at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

USADA is urging governments and the sport movement to overhaul WADA to prevent similar cover-ups in the future. They believe that athletes, sponsors, and fans deserve a global anti-doping agency that can effectively enforce the rules and ensure fair competition. The call for reform comes as the sporting world gears up for the upcoming Paris Olympics.