US Anti-Doping Agency Stands Behind Funding Freeze Over Wada

US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) has fully supported the US government’s decision to withhold a $3.6 million (£2.8 million) payment to the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada). This move stems from an ongoing dispute over Wada’s handling of a doping scandal involving Chinese swimmers. In April, reports revealed that 23 Chinese swimmers had cleared to compete in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics despite testing positive for a banned substance months earlier.

Usada’s CEO, Travis Tygart, stated that withholding the payment was the “only right choice” to protect athletes’ rights and ensure fair competition. He criticized Wada for failing to meet reasonable requests such as conducting an independent audit of its operations. Tygart also pointed out that the agency’s lack of transparency and accountability left the US with no alternative. In response, Wada announced that US representatives would no longer be eligible to sit on its foundation board or executive committee.

The controversy started when Wada did not disprove the China Anti-Doping Agency’s claim that swimmers had unintentionally ingested trimetazidine, a performance-enhancing heart medication. This triggered outrage among Western anti-doping bodies with US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) suggesting a cover-up, a claim Wada rejected as “completely false and defamatory.” Wada defended its position, claiming it had been caught in the geopolitical tensions between the US and China and stated that an independent investigation had found no mishandling of the case.

US lawmakers accused Wada of mishandling the investigation and passed legislation giving the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy the authority to cut funding. The US, Wada’s largest funding partner, has contributed significantly to the agency’s budget and will host major events like the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 LA Olympics. Tygart has called for significant reform at Wada to prevent future scandals and restore trust.