Richard Pound, the founder and first president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, which has also served as a member of the International Olympic Committee since 1978, spoke clearly through the agency on recent developments.
A lawyer argues that if American law enforcement oversteps by bypassing WADA in a doping probe involving Chinese swimmers, the United States could jeopardize its bids to host future Olympic events, including the 2028 Summer Games and the 2034 Winter Games.
The United States references its own Rodchenkov Law, named for Grigory Rodchenkov, a Russian whistleblower connected to WADA allegations. The law passed in the U.S. Senate in 2020 allows Americans to pursue prosecutions for violations of WADA rules occurring abroad.
Under this framework, if U.S. authorities determine that an individual or entity violated anti-doping rules at a major competition involving American athletes, penalties can reach up to 10 years in prison for individuals and fines of $250,000 for individuals or $1 million for corporations.
Yet Pound contends that this U.S. law clashes with WADA rules and threatens the integrity of the global anti-doping system.
He notes that the Americans appear to be attempting to steer the IOC, WADA, and other countries by scrutinizing anti-doping investigations and signaling potential arrests of athletes and officials.
Because of these tensions, the leadership of the Association of International Summer Olympic Federations has said they were hesitant to send staff to the U.S. Congress, fearing arrest under the Rodchenkov Act.
“You’ve already seen the ASOIF statement that the situation is serious and the U.S. could actually be barred from many events,” Pound said. “The Rodchenkov Act does not align with WADA anti-doping rules. I expect a congressional hearing, and it is possible the U.S. will be found non-compliant with WADA. That would affect Olympic hosting rights.”
Pound added that the IOC may delay a final decision on whether the 2034 Winter Games will be held in Salt Lake City, a decision originally expected to be announced during the IOC Congress next week.
Pound emphasized that the U.S. probe into the Chinese swimmers did not meet Rodchenkov Act criteria. To fall under U.S. jurisdiction, the anti-doping rule violation must occur at a major tournament involving Americans; by major, that means a competition featuring athletes from at least three countries outside the United States.
“Viewed in context, it is a national competition held in China with no Americans within 6,000 miles,” Pound said. “Yet the attempt is to classify it as a Rodchenkov Act violation, which looks questionable.”
What sparked the clash between the U.S. and WADA?
The rift between the United States and the World Anti-Doping Agency widened in April 2024.
The U.S. edition of The New York Times later reported that, shortly before Tokyo 2020, 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for the banned drug trimetazidine, contributing to Kamila Valieva’s four-year disqualification in figure skating.
WADA accepted the Chinese side’s explanation that contamination at home led to the presence of trimetazidine in the swimmers’ systems and allowed all athletes to participate in the Games.
From the American perspective, WADA and the International Olympic Committee had failed in their duties, prompting the United States to undertake its own inquiry, citing the Rodchenkov Act. The Justice Department and even the FBI became involved.
World Aquatics president Brent Nowitzki has been summoned to testify in a doping case involving Chinese swimmers.
Russia questions the likelihood of U.S. punishment
Renowned figure skating coach Tatyana Tarasova suggested that WADA would not strip the United States of its Olympic hosting rights.
“Nobody can deprive the United States of this right; it is a great sports nation. You don’t need to dope; you can compete cleanly,” Tarasova told TASS.
Tarasova added that she would be surprised if the United States actually lost hosting privileges, noting that Russia would not receive those Olympics anyway.
Three-time Olympic figure skating champion Irina Rodnina echoed a similar sentiment, saying, “Each country has its own internal laws. Let them handle it. Our dispute is over.” Rodnina also expressed doubt that the Americans would be deprived of hosting rights, as quoted by Match TV.