'One stakeholder cannot impose its vision' – WADA chief slams US for undermining authority

WADA President Witold Banka insisted the agency acted without bias, slamming US officials for defamatory attacks over doping controversies.

On a sinking ship there is often a scramble to blame, and in 2024, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) found itself navigating choppy waters amid controversy over its handling of doping cases and increasing tensions with key stakeholders.

In a year marked by high-profile incidents involving Chinese swimmers and tennis star Jannik Sinner, WADA President Witold Banka has lashed out at those who criticized his organization, accusing US officials of launching "unfair, defamatory attacks."

The year’s most notable controversy occurred in the wake of the Tokyo Olympics, when WADA was severely criticized for clearing 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for trimetazidine, a substance banned by the World Anti-Doping Code.

The agency accepted the explanation from Chinese authorities, who claimed that the swimmers had ingested the drug through contaminated food at a hotel.

Banka defended the agency's actions, insisting that the case was "definitively closed" following an independent report which concluded there was no bias toward China.

"There was no wrongdoing on our side," Banka said in an interview with Agence France-Presse.

"The case is closed."

Despite the findings, WADA faced harsh criticism from various quarters, particularly in the United States, where officials accused the agency of overlooking potential doping violations for political reasons.

Banka pushed back against the accusations, dismissing them as politically motivated.

"The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) is making very unfair, defamatory attacks on WADA," he declared.

"There’s no room for that kind of politicization of the anti-doping system."

He also expressed his frustration with the strained relationship between WADA and USADA, acknowledging that while tensions have somewhat eased, they remain "quite difficult."

"One stakeholder cannot impose its vision on how the system should work," Banka added, asserting that WADA is the ultimate authority on global anti-doping matters.

The WADA president’s comments came as the United States prepares to host the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028 and the Winter Games in Salt Lake City in 2034.

Despite the ongoing disputes, Banka emphasized that the US would have to collaborate with WADA to ensure a smooth anti-doping process for the upcoming Games.

"Whether someone likes it or not, WADA is the body responsible for the anti-doping system in the world," he said.

Furthermore, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has inserted a termination clause into the Salt Lake City host contract, which could see the Games pulled if WADA's "supreme authority" is not respected.

Another controversy that dominated the sports landscape this year involved the issue of transparency in anti-doping reporting.

Both Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1 tennis player, and Iga Świątek, the world No. 2, were involved in positive test cases that were not made public until several months later.

Sinner tested positive for clostebol, an anabolic steroid, in March 2024, while Świątek tested positive for trimetazidine in August.

The delayed announcements raised questions about WADA's commitment to transparency, with many criticizing the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for withholding the information until November.

WADA Director General Olivier Niggli weighed in on the debate, acknowledging the difficult balance between protecting an athlete’s reputation and meeting the public’s expectation for transparency.

"Where do we draw the line?" Niggli said, emphasizing that the protection of an athlete’s reputation should be the primary concern.

"We live in a world where social networks can destroy a reputation in the blink of an eye."

Niggli also pointed to the growing scrutiny of athletes’ entourages.

In light of Sinner's case, which saw the player absolved of any intentional wrongdoing but with questions raised about his entourage’s role, Niggli stated that WADA was exploring ways to hold athletes accountable for the actions of their support teams.

"We have many requests for strengthening the consequences for the entourage," Niggli said.

"It’s crucial that there is real monitoring of these people."

Despite the controversies, WADA’s commitment to the integrity of sports remains steadfast.

However, as the agency looks to the future, the relationship with the US and the issue of transparency in doping cases will continue to shape the discourse around the global fight against doping.