World Anti-Doping Agency Criticises US Anti-Doping Agency for Multiple Violations

On the evening of August 7, 2024, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), headquartered in Montreal, Canada, issued a statement severely criticizing the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for its violations in the field of anti-doping over the years. WADA's statement was made after a report exposing USADA's illegal operations was released earlier that day, stating that USADA allowed athletes who took doping to participate, and at least one violation was never announced or sanctioned.

USADA has repeatedly violated the World Anti-Doping Regulations

WADA stated in a statement that USADA's practice of allowing doping athletes to participate is a clear violation of the World Anti-Doping Rules that protect the fairness and integrity of sports competitions. WADA emphasized that the World Anti-Doping Agency has never approved this practice and does not recognize the measures taken by USADA in the process.

Athens Olympic 100m champion Justin Gatlin

It is reported that Carl Lewis, the nine-time Olympic gold medalist in the United States, tested positive in three tests before the 1988 Seoul Olympics, but was able to continue to compete. Athens Olympic 100m champion Justin Gatlin tested positive for doping twice and should have been banned for life, but USADA shortened his ban to four years. In addition, WADA revealed that at least three athletes who seriously violated anti-doping rules were used as informants by USADA for many years and were allowed to continue to compete, and these violations were never reported to WADA.

Recent cases have attracted attention

Recently, American track and field athlete Eliyan Knighton was found to be positive for steroids in an out-of-competition test in March this year, but USADA claimed that his positive result was due to eating contaminated meat, and did not impose a ban on him, allowing him to represent the United States in the Paris Olympics. Similarly, in April this year, track and field athlete Aldridge Bailey tested positive for out-of-competition tests, and USADA believed that it was caused by compression sleeve contamination and did not take further punishment.

Knighton, a member of the U.S. Olympic track and field team, was found to be positive for steroids (trenbolone) in an out-of-competition doping test on March 26 this year.

WADA's statement also mentioned an athlete who participated in the US Olympic qualifiers and international competitions and admitted to taking steroids and erythropoietin (EPO), but was allowed to continue to compete until retirement. These violations have never been made public, the results of the athletes involved have not been cancelled, the prize money has not been refunded, and they have not been banned.

Undermining the fairness of sports and endangering the safety of athletes

WADA said that if other athletes knew that they were competing with athletes who took doping drugs, how would they feel? USADA has repeatedly allowed cheaters to return to the field and compete with other athletes, which has seriously undermined the fairness of sports competitions. The statement pointed out that USADA allowed cheaters to continue to participate in doping cases that have not been announced for many years, and expected these cheaters to help the United States catch other athletes who may have violated the rules. This behavior is full of irony.

WADA also questioned whether the board of directors that manages USADA or the US Congress that provides funding for it is aware of these non-compliant practices. These actions not only undermine the fairness of sports competitions, but also pose a threat to the safety of the athletes involved.