USADA must be held accountable for anti-doping double standards

The Olympics are widely considered the world's most prestigious sporting event because the participants and spectators alike crave and anticipate fierce competition between more or less evenly-matched contestants. While some fans may wish to see their teams triumph decisively, such one-sided outcomes are generally not well-received by others involved in sports. Addressing the issue of doping by certain teams or individuals seeking to undermine the integrity of competition is crucial, and punishments must be implemented to uphold fairness.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) plays a vital role in ensuring a level playing field for all athletes, as noted in an article – seen by some as self-congratulatory – that was posted on its official website last November. But the latest revelations have exposed the organization's apparent utter failure to adhere to its own standards, as highlighted in a scathing statement the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) released late on Wednesday.

WADA's rebuke was prompted by a Reuters report claiming USADA blatantly allowed athletes who tested positive for banned substances to compete without facing proper sanctions, posing a significant threat to the integrity of sporting competitions.

The ongoing disputes between Olympic administrators, anti-doping organizations, and the United States government regarding the best way to eradicate performance-enhancing drugs from sports are nothing new. But tensions escalated when U.S. officials and USADA launched continuous criticisms against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and WADA over their handling of a case involving 23 Chinese swimmers, who tested positive for a banned substance before the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2021, but were still allowed to compete in the Japanese capital and later in Paris.

The U.S. authorities disregarded the explanations provided by WADA, the IOC and an independent Swiss prosecutor, who all trusted the Chinese authorities' account that the swimmers unintentionally ingested a banned heart medication. Traces of this medication were reportedly found in the kitchen of a hotel where the athletes were staying.

In response, U.S. authorities conducted their own investigation, even issuing a subpoena to an international swimming official believed to potentially have information on the case involving the Chinese swimmers.

USADA has the freedom to involve itself in such matters, but the irony lies in what the Reuters report presents as a blatant double standard. While vehemently defending American athletes, USADA simultaneously accuses the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) and WADA of concealing the truth， and advocates for punitive actions against Chinese athletes.

Moreover, as per the latest statement from WADA, USADA has permitted athletes who allegedly tested positive for banned substances to participate in competitions for extended periods, and in at least one case without ever disclosing or imposing sanctions for the purported violations of anti-doping rules. Such actions directly violate the World Anti-Doping Code and USADA's own regulations.

WADA emphasized that contrary to USADA's claims, the agency did not endorse the practice of allowing apparent drug cheats to continue competing for years under the guise of gathering evidence against others. WADA says it is now aware of at least three instances in which athletes who tested positive for major banned substances were allowed to continue competing for multiple years, while serving as undercover informants for USADA without notifying WADA, and without the existence of any provision for such a practice under the Code or USADA's rules.

While WADA has refrained from disclosing specific details or athlete identities, instances of competitors from the U.S. breaching anti-doping regulations are not uncommon. Renowned track and field star Carl Lewis, who won nine Olympic gold medals for the U.S., openly admitted after retiring from the sport that despite testing positive three times before the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics, he was granted leniency and allowed to participate as usual.

Justin Gatlin, the 100 meter champion from the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, faced the second positive test of his career two years later and should have been hit with a lifetime ban according to the rules, but USADA vigorously defended him, and managed to get suspension reduced to just four years. Gatlin continues to be labeled a "two-time drug cheat" by some fans and media outlets, even after his successful comeback to claim the bronze medal in the 100 meters at the 2012 London Summer Olympics.

The most recent incident involves sprinter Erriyon Knighton, who tested positive for trenbolone this past March. A U.S. arbitration panel ruled that the substance came from contaminated meat, thus enabling the young talent to maintain his eligibility for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials and Paris Summer Olympics. Observers noted the glaring contrast in treatment between the 20-year-old prodigy, who holds records in the 200 meters for the under-18 and under-20 categories, and the Chinese swimmers. While Knighton received protection from U.S. authorities, China's swimmers faced relentless scrutiny and media interrogations regarding drug-related inquiries, underscoring a stark double standard.

The recent disclosures from WADA shed light on actions by USADA that can be viewed as reckless. WADA pointed out another case involving a prominent athlete, in which the U.S. organization failed to inform WADA about its decision to lift the athlete's provisional suspension, a move that could have been contested, despite being mandated to do so under the Code. WADA unequivocally stated that had it been informed, the Agency would have never approved such a move. So how should other athletes feel knowing they were unknowingly competing against individuals that USADA knew had tested positive for banned substances?

It can be deemed truly ironic and hypocritical that USADA raises objections when it suspects other anti-doping organizations of not strictly adhering to the rules, yet USADA itself stayed silent on doping cases for years, and allowed certain athletes who tested positive to continue competing in hopes of catching other potential violators. WADA questions whether the USADA Board of Directors, which oversees USADA, or the U.S. Congress, which funds it, were aware of this non-compliant practice. This situation not only compromised the integrity of sporting competitions, but also jeopardized the safety of the athletes involved.

In a modern and complex society, the sporting world requires intricate procedures that recognize differences and administer punishments with a spirit of tolerance and a commitment to fairness for the athletes who bring joy to the public. These critical questions demand urgent and definitive answers.