U.S. and WADA Clash Over Chinese Swimmers’ Doping Allegations

Escalating Tensions: The U.S. and WADA’s Dispute over Chinese Swimmers’ Doping Allegations

The ongoing confrontation between the United States and the global antidoping authority, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), regarding the management of positive drug tests by elite Chinese swimmers has intensified in recent weeks. This situation has drawn in a significant new player: the Biden administration.

Last month, WADA formally notified the White House that they were seeking to exclude the U.S. representative, Dr. Rahul Gupta, from any discussions concerning the positive tests of Chinese athletes at the agency’s leadership meeting, scheduled this week in Turkey. This move to bar Dr. Gupta, who serves as the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, is perceived as part of a broader strategy by WADA to counteract American criticism related to how the agency has handled doping allegations.

Critics of WADA argue that this attempt to prevent Dr. Gupta from participating in the discussions is a calculated effort to diminish the U.S.’s capacity to raise concerns about the management of doping tests conducted before the last two Summer Olympics. Furthermore, it aims to stifle calls for greater transparency and accountability within the global antidoping framework.

In response, the White House has reacted strongly, as indicated by documents reviewed by The New York Times and interviews conducted with various government and antidoping officials. As tensions rise, this contentious exchange is anticipated to reach a critical juncture on Thursday during the meeting in Turkey.