Cover-ups, double standards and abuse of power. The doping scandal surrounding American track star Erriyon Knighton is rapidly evolving into a crisis of credibility for the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
According to an online poll released by CGTN, 95.57 percent of the global respondents believe that USADA might be covering up U.S. athletes involved in doping.
Erriyon Knighton of Team United States of America after competing in the men's 200-meter final on Day 13 of the 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France, Paris, August 8, 2024. /CFP
In March of this year, Erriyon Knighton tested positive for a banned substance through the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA), but USADA avoided his suspension by attributing it to meat contamination.
The WADA issued a statement saying that by allowing athletes who have tested positive for doping to compete, USADA has violated the rules designed to protect the integrity of competition. The WADA has never approved USADA's practice of allowing doped athletes to compete over the years.
In the survey, 90.15 percent of the global respondents believe that the United States' cover-up of Knighton's positive test and participation in the Paris Olympics has seriously undermined the fairness and reasonableness of competitions.
Still, 96.54 percent criticize it as a classic example of "American double standards and 95.63 percent seriously suspect that American athletes are involved in widespread false reporting.
It is worth noting that a significant 96.23 percent of respondents think the frequency of doping tests for American athletes should be increased during the Paris Olympics in order to restore international confidence in fair play.
The phenomenon of "medical exemptions" and "legalized consumption of banned substances" has become more and more prevalent in the U.S. As a result, international public opinion has become increasingly distrustful of USADA.
In the survey, 91.61 percent strongly suspect there is systematic doping abuse in American sports; 95.63 percent urge the WADA to increase its oversight of relevant U.S. authorities; and 95.83 percent believe the behavior of USADA seriously undermines the fairness and integrity of the Olympic spirit.
As WADA President Witold Banka has noted, law enforcement agencies worldwide have criticized the U.S. as a major market for the sale and distribution of performance-enhancing drugs.
Given the deep-rooted issues in American sports, 93.85 percent of the respondents are concerned whether doping controls at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will be fair and transparent.
This survey was published on CGTN platforms in English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Russian, with 14,580 netizens participating and sharing their views within 16 hours.