U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) hosted a virtual press conference with Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), House Select Committee on the CCP Chairman John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) to announce the Restoring Confidence in the World Anti-Doping Agency Act.
This bipartisan initiative aims to enforce accountability and transparency within the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) following a series of doping scandals involving Chinese athletes, including during the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.
Recent investigations revealed that in 2022, two Chinese athletes tested positive for a banned steroid but were covertly cleared by Chinese authorities.
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This followed earlier reports of 23 Chinese swimmers testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs before the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, with WADA failing to conduct a thorough investigation and accepting the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency’s explanation of unintentional doping due to food contamination.
Olympic silver medalist Allison Wagner and Paralympian Greta Neimanas joined the senators to advocate for fair competition and stricter anti-doping measures. Wagner and Neimanas, who have long campaigned for a level playing field, highlighted the need for WADA to uphold its commitment to clean sport.
“Earlier this year, it was reported that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug prior to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021,” stated Senator Blackburn. “Instead of investigating, WADA accepted the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency’s excuse of food contamination. Eleven of those athletes are now competing in the Paris Olympics without accountability.”
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“New reports revealed that two Chinese swimmers, one currently competing in Paris, tested positive for a banned steroid in 2022 and were secretly cleared by Chinese authorities, again citing food contamination,” said Blackburn. “WADA has consistently opposed our efforts to ensure fair play.”
Demand for Accountability: Senator Blackburn, along with Senators Hickenlooper and Blumenthal, previously sent a letter to WADA President Banka demanding answers and transparency, which went largely ignored. Furthermore, WADA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) attempted to pressure the U.S. into dropping an FBI investigation by threatening Salt Lake City’s bid for the 2034 Winter Games.
Legislative Measures: The Restoring Confidence in the World Anti-Doping Agency Act aims to:
- Withhold U.S. funding from WADA if fair representation on its governing bodies is not ensured.
- Address potential conflicts of interest within WADA.
- Ensure U.S. athletes have confidence in global anti-doping regulations.
“American athletes deserve a fair shot, and this starts with addressing the Chinese doping scandal,” Blackburn emphasized. “We will not be silenced in our efforts to promote fair play.”
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Background:
- Earlier reports showed 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine before the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, but WADA did not investigate, accepting claims of food contamination.
- Nearly half of these swimmers won medals, including three golds.
- The IOC has attempted to pressure the U.S. by threatening to reject Salt Lake City’s 2034 Winter Games bid if the FBI investigation continues.
As the largest financial contributor to WADA, the U.S. demands accountability to ensure all athletes compete on an even playing field.
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