by The US government has retained its annual financial contribution to the World Anti -Doping Agency (WADA), increasing tensions between American stakeholders and AMA on the efficiency and transparency of the anti -doping organization.
The ADAD and the American Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) confirmed on Wednesday that the United States had refused to pay the $ 3.6 million it had promised to the AMA as part of its normal financing process for 2024. The New York Times indicated that the decision to retain funding was manufactured by the White House in consultation with Congress, on concerns about AMA management of a case in 2021 in which 23 Chinese swimmers were Discreetly eliminated after testing positive for the same prohibited substance.
“Adad must take concrete measures to restore confidence in the global anti -doping system and provide athletes with full confidence they deserve,” the White House said in a press release, which reported the New Wednesday. “When the dollars of American taxpayers are allocated, we must ensure complete responsibility and it is our responsibility to guarantee that these funds are used in an appropriate manner.”
The White House press office did not immediately respond to a message from USA Today Sports.
USADA CEO, Travis Tygart, said in a statement that he had made this decision as “the only good choice to protect the rights of athletes, responsibility and equitable competition”.
“Unfortunately, the current AMA leaders have left the United States without any other option after omitting several very reasonable requests, such as an independent audit of AMA operations, to achieve the necessary transparency and responsibility To ensure that the AMA is able to protect athletes, “said Tygart, who has repeatedly criticized Wada.
Tygart also pointed out that no government had given the AMA more money since its foundation in 2000 than the United States, while explaining that non-payment would have “no impact” on the ability of American athletes to compete in international sports.
The $ 3.6 million due by the United States, when it is automatically equaled by the International Olympic Committee, represent around 14% of the AMA $ 52 million budget for 2024. The United States should pay $ 3.8 million for 2025.
Tygart had previously suggested that the United States could retain its annual AMA funding as a means of arouing reform following the scandal of Chinese swimmers, in which 23 athletes were tested positive for the same prohibited substance, trimetazidine, A few months before the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games. China’s anti -doping authority did not publicly disclose the positive tests, if necessary, and the AMA discreetly erased swimmers after agreeing with China’s affirmation that the positive tests were the result of contamination in a hotel.
When the New York Times and the German diffuser Ard highlighted the last case, the leaders of the AMA quickly defended to defend themselves against the claims of criticism, in particular Tygart, which they had actually swept the case under the carpet. Wada then on several occasions Tygart and the United States as trying to politicize sports.
Asked about the American decision’s ramifications to retain funding, AMA spokesperson James Fitzgerald, wrote in an email on Wednesday that, as part of the organization’s statutes, any country that does not pay its Promised contributions is prohibited to have a representation on the board of directors or executive of the AMA foundation or at the Wada Committee, which helps to manage it. This means that Dr. Rahul Gupta, who oversees the National House Drug Control Office of the White House, will no longer sit on the executive committee.
The decision comes as the United States is preparing to host a series of prestigious international sporting events over the next decade, including the 2026 World Cup for male football, the 2028 summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles and the 2034 winter games in Salt Lake City.
The New York Times reported that before retaining the funding of the AMA, the White House sought the possible ramifications of the decision and “concluded that this could mean losing to accommodate the 2034″ winter Olympic Games ” – Although this seems unlikely given the strength of Salt Lake from Salt Lake to Salt Lake “offers and the shortage of other interested and well-equipped hosts. The spokesperson for the American Olympic and Paralympic Committee did not immediately respond to A message asking for comments.
The IOC officially granted the 2034 winter games in the United States during a vote last summer after a controversial meeting during which CIO members torn, among other things, the Rodchenkov law, which allows the US authorities to pursue criminal charges in doping that affects American athletes. The leaders of the American auctions tried to appease these concerns and undertook to reiterate their support for WADA as “supreme authority” in the global fight against doping of sports.
Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatuday.com or on social networks @ Tomschad.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on USA Today: US Funding Wada returns in the midst of concerns concerning the Chinese doping scandal
