It was to be expected. Long silent, the IOC has finally decided to make itself heard in the controversy arising from the case of doping by contamination in Chinese swimming. Unsurprisingly, the Olympic body has sided with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), for which it has provided part of its funding since its creation.
Anything but a coincidence, the IOC's position comes two days after the submission of the provisional report of the independent investigation entrusted last April by WADA to former Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier. A report which ensures that the agency based in Montreal has “not favored» China, in this matter, and also not suffered pressure or interference when deciding not to suspend the 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for trimetazidine.
In a press release published Thursday July 11, the IOC explains to keep its “ full confidence » in the AMA. It calls “all stakeholders to respect the supreme authority of WADA in the fight against doping". The authority continues in the same tone by recalling that this “ respect forms the basis on which WADA was founded by governments and the Olympic movement", and that it is " essential to any fair international competition ».
The IOC's message does not mention a recipient, but it is obviously addressed to the United States, where the doping affair in Chinese swimming has triggered a full-blown offensive against WADA, on the part of the American Anti-Doping agency (USADA) and its Director General Travis Tygart initially, then the House of Representatives. Michael Phelps even joined the debate, using his hearing in Washington to suggest that WADA lacked independence and effectiveness, and that it was high time to reform it.
Two weeks and a few hours before the opening of the Paris 2024 Games, the IOC has finally decided to signal the end of recess. It was time. In response to the doubts expressed by USADA, Lausanne ensures that the Swiss Eric Cottier “ had access to all WADA documents and materials, interviewed a number of WADA employees on several occasions and was assisted by other independent experts in the fields of criminal science, pharmacokinetics and law ". So the job was well done.
The IOC press release also explains that “The only questions that remain are procedural". They will be settled in the final document, announced for the coming weeks. Finally, the Olympic body emphasizes that WADA “has already committed to responding to all recommendations» which could be formulated by the former Swiss prosecutor.
End of the story ? Not sure. By publicly taking a position in favor of WADA in a matter which has lasted for several months and threatens to slip between the water lines of the swimming events of the Paris 2024 Games, the IOC hopes to calm American anger. But it will undoubtedly take a lot more to put an end to the matter.
