A group of House Republicans is escalating the ongoing tension between the United States and China over allegations of doping in international sports. In a letter addressed to WADA President Witold Banka, Reps. Debbie Lesko, Jeff Duncan, and Morgan Griffith expressed serious concerns about WADA’s handling of doping allegations, particularly those involving Chinese athletes. The letter cites the agency’s alleged suppression of information regarding 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for banned substances before the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, information that only came to light after being revealed by journalists. The lawmakers also highlight the fact that two additional Chinese swimmers, including one on the 2024 Paris Olympics team, tested positive in 2022 for a banned substance. While China’s anti-doping body blamed contaminated hamburger meat, WADA did not dispute the finding. The U.S. has accused WADA of a lack of transparency in recent weeks leading up to the conclusion of the Paris Olympics. In June, a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee held a hearing featuring star swimmers Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt, who expressed athletes’ declining faith in the international agency. In response to the accusations, WADA has defended itself, claiming that the U.S. is using the agency as a pawn in its geopolitical disputes with China. A top WADA official told the BBC in late July that certain individuals in the U.S. are trying to score political points due to the Chinese nationality of the athletes involved. The GOP lawmakers are demanding that WADA provide a detailed explanation of its investigation into the 23 cleared Chinese swimmers, outlining why the results were not publicly disclosed sooner. They also call for a third-party independent investigation into the agency’s decision-making. The letter concludes by stating that the American public, athletes, and the global sports community deserve answers and that sports should be free from corruption, holding those who violate anti-doping rules accountable regardless of nationality. This incident further exacerbates the already tense relationship between the U.S. and China, which is at its frostiest point in modern history. China has retaliated against the U.S. accusations by claiming double standards and calling for increased drug testing for American athletes. However, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has voiced its support for Lesko’s letter, stating that those with nothing to hide should welcome the opportunity to answer questions and provide transparency. USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart emphasized their appreciation for any effort to ensure accountability, transparency, and a strong global anti-doping regulator on behalf of clean athletes. Fox News Digital has reached out to WADA for comment.
US Lawmakers Demand Transparency from World Anti-Doping Agency Amid China Doping Scandal
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