For years, some U.S. lawmakers have been pressuring the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) by threatening to withhold the country’s annual funding of over $3.6 million. This ongoing tension threatens to undermine fair play in sports and casts a shadow over Salt Lake City’s bid to host the 2034 Winter Olympics.
During the Paris Olympics, U.S. lawmakers introduced a bill that, if passed, would allow the country’s drug control authority to stop financing WADA. As of July 19, the U.S. has not fulfilled its 2024 funding obligation, according to an official WADA report, while countries like China, Canada, and most European nations have met their commitments.
The United States is WADA's largest public authority contributor, accounting for approximately 7.25 percent of the agency's nearly $50 million core funding. Despite this significant contribution, the U.S. has a history of withholding funds to push for greater representation and reforms within WADA. In 2020, the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy suggested defunding WADA unless its demands were met.
WADA’s 42-member foundation board includes representatives from all regions of the world, ensuring a global perspective in its governance. However, the U.S. has consistently held back a substantial portion of its dues, most notably withholding about $1.3 million in 2021 until early the following year.
The latest financial threat from the U.S. stems from its investigation into World Aquatics concerning 23 Chinese swimmers. This move has sparked concerns among international sports federations about the integrity of U.S. involvement in global sports governance.
Salt Lake City’s selection as the host for the 2034 Winter Olympics is contingent upon the U.S. addressing these funding and governance issues. Local organizers must ensure that the U.S. government respects WADA’s authority on doping cases to maintain the integrity of the Games.
Additionally, allegations that the U.S. anti-doping authority applies double standards by allowing its athletes who test positive for banned substances to continue competing as undercover agents raise questions about adherence to both domestic and WADA’s anti-doping rules.
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U.S. keeps threatening world anti-doping authorities with defunding
cgtn.com
