The United States continues to hold millions of dollars of funds for the World Anti-Doping Agency. But a verbal exchange of blows in the heart of the global movement for clean sport shows that relaxation is far away.
Witold Banka all-round: The President of the World Anti-Doping Agency Wada has the numerous critics of his organization “Politically motivated attacks” and the use of “Conspiracy theories” accused. Travis Tygart, the head of the US anti-doping agency and the sharpest public Wada critic, meanwhile called for a “change of direction at the top” of the organization as part of the Wada Symposium in Lausanne.
The trigger of the disputes in a turbulent year for the WADA were the revelations of the ARD to cover up positive doping samples in 23 Chinese swimmers shortly before the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021. In his presidential approach on the annual meeting of anti-doping officials in Lausanne “The integrity of the WADA and its team of around 180 committed employees questions”.
Banka added: “We have found that it is pointless to argue with people who are not willing to accept clear evidence. People who want to harm the Wada and who do not want to find a solution. We have to come to the conclusion that they can no longer be seen as a credible partner for clean sport. They believe in conspiracy theories”said Banka. The Pole added to him, added to him: “If you want to change the world, start at home. But instead of sweeping at your own doorstep, try to draw attention to other things. Therefore, you attack the wada.”
Many national agencies continue to be skeptical
The aggressive type of Banka’s comments caused frowning among the delegates on the banks of Lake Geneva. The concern about the reaction of the Wada to the China affair is by no means limited to the United States. Eighteen national anti-doping agencies, including the Germans, have come together to formulate criticism and organize resistance. The 23 swimmers were acquitted for alleged contamination and not even suspended, as the rules prescribe. And all of this with the blessing of the Wada, although the Chinese authorities have not proven evidence of the alleged contamination.
Banka and all other Wada officials rejected interview requests from the ARD doping editorial team during their annual conference in Lausanne. The organization also canceled an originally planned press conference, pronounced because of the journalist who is too small.
Criticism by Tygart
“The Wada has allowed China to apply a special regulation in which the rules do not apply to Chinese athletes, and these rules apply to everyone else worldwide”said Tygart of the ARD during the event. “You can look at the rules and they are very clear. The non -notification of the athletes, the non -letting of samples, the non -suspension of preliminary obligatory blocks, the non -disqualification, the non -suspension of consequences – all of this represents a complete reversal of the rules that the rest of us sticks to.”
That is the reason, according to Tygart, why “As many are outraged and why the trust of athletes all over the world is lost. They see that a country receives special treatment, and that is simply not fair”said Tygart. He called for consequences: “It is not a system that should be maintained, so we absolutely need a change of direction at the top of the world anti-doping program.”
Wada still lacks 3.6 million from the USA
Several delegates told ARD during the symposium that they doubt that Banka’s aggressive approach was the best way so that something like normality in worldwide anti-doping fight-and to persuade the United States to pay their contribution to 2024 US dollar (3.3 million euros).
The United States is the largest wada donor among member nations. The decision to freeze the contributions was made during Joe Biden’s presidency, but is also said to have existed under his successor Donald Trump. International organizations, which in his opinion waste public funds, is particularly hostile to Trump.
All of this is done at a time when the USA is preparing to align the 2026 World Cup and then the 2028 and 2034 Olympic Games. “We call it the mega decade in the United States”said Tygart of the ARD: “But at the same time we do not pay our contributions to the world-anti-doping agency. There is obviously a discrepancy, and the discrepancy means that we will not pay an organization that repeatedly proves that it is not worth the money that it receives.”
Banka probably remains Wada President
Banka is expected to be the only candidate who, as WADA president, will be elected in the course of this year, in his case for a last three-year term. According to ARD information, other interested parties are said to have been prevented from standing for election-also due to the lack of support from the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic movement, which together contribute 50 percent of the Wada budget.
Banka, the former athlete and Polish sports minister, also tried in Lausanne to blame his US critics to the Enhanced Games project, the controversial planned event, at which athletes can use any doping substances. “I hope that those who concentrate on the Wada and not on their own responsibilities are courageous enough to take a strong attitude, especially to the influential people who intend to finance the enhanced games”said Banka.
The well-known investors behind the event include billionaires Peter Thiel and Donald Trump Jr., the son of the US President.