The sprinkler watered. In the endless battle between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the United States, the ball has just changed sides. After having long been attacked by the American Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for its silence in the case of doping by contamination of Chinese swimmers, WADA is regaining the upper hand.
According to Reuters, WADA is contesting the way USADA is going about trying to catch the biggest doping fish in the United States in its net. We understand it. The American method turns out to be very questionable, and above all in contradiction with the World Anti-Doping Code, since it consists of letting athletes who test positive continue their careers, without the slightest sanction, in exchange for their collaboration in the fight against networks and the biggest cheaters.
In a press release published Wednesday, August 7, WADA explained that it was aware of at least three cases, between 2011 and 2014, against which USADA took no sanction. “They have been allowed to continue competing for years», explains the Montreal-based agency. The athletes in question are not named, as WADA respects their confidentiality, but one of them is said to have participated in the Olympic trials. He would have been authorized to continue, then end, his career, despite a positive doping test for steroids and EPO.
Embarrassing. And all the more embarrassing since USADA operated like this for years, with its own methods that were questionable to say the least, without informing anyone. It did not ask WADA for the green light to carry out its operations behind the scenes.
But the American camp explains and defends itself. Faced with WADA's perplexity at the discovery of these practices, USADA indicated that “ any publication of the consequences or disqualification of the results would endanger the safety of the athlete.” The Americans asked WADA to accept this silence. “Placed in this impossible position, WADA had no choice but to accept”, underlines the global agency.
The AMA continues in a much less factual tone: “It is ironic and hypocritical that USADA is crying foul when it suspects other anti-doping organizations of not following the rules to the letter, when it has not reported doping cases for years and 'she allowed cheaters to continue to compete. » Not false.
Unsurprisingly, the Americans believe they are within their rights. Worse: they in turn attack WADA for its decision to reveal the affair to the media. “It is sad to see WADA leaders desperately and dangerously trying to smear others, including informants, instead of answering basic questions about why they allowed China to cover up 23 positive tests to TMZ and two positive tests for metandienone,” insists USADA.
Travis Tygart, the head of anti-doping in the United States, assured Reuters that one of the three cases mentioned by WADA allowed the American federal police to open an investigation into human trafficking and of narcotics. But he did not wish to give further details on the matter in question.
The World Anti-Doping Code provides that an athlete who provides assistance “ substantial » to an investigation into doping may benefit, at his request, from a reduction in his sanction. But it is not intended to let a positive athlete continue his career, without being in the least prosecuted and sanctioned. Obviously, the Americans have their own interpretation of the global code, its rules and its obligations.
For the Chinese, the revelation of American practices sounds like a godsend, after having been the object of all attacks from the United States since the start of the affair of the 23 contaminated swimmers. The national anti-doping agency (CHINADA) published a press release this Thursday, where it asks the International Testing Agency (ITA) “ to intensify controls on American athletes in athletics ».
At the top of the list, sprinter Erriyon Knighton, tested positive this year, but cleared by USADA after also pleading food contamination. Present at the Paris 2024 Games, he must participate later in the day in the 200m final.
CHINADA also recalls, citing figures recently revealed by WADA, that 31% of American athletes were insufficiently tested during the 12 months preceding the Tokyo 2020 Games.
