“It is sad to see WADA leaders’ desperate and dangerous attempts to smear others, including informants, instead of answering basic questions about why they allowed China to cover-up 23 positive tests for TMZ and two positive tests for metandienone. Now, as athletes from around the world are speaking out about these failures that impacted the Paris Olympic swimming event, WADA responds by lashing out against others. Clean athletes deserve answers, and they deserve better from WADA. For the Olympic values to have meaning, it is time to get WADA right.
Ironically, the expansive investigations done by USADA and the involved IF, referenced in WADA’s statement today, demonstrates exactly what WADA should have done with the Chinese swimmers’ positives: develop the evidence to identify the truth and uphold the rules to protect clean sport.
WADA and the IF were also aware of the athletes’ cooperation, including the athletes’ return to competition, one of which was necessary for the U.S. federal law enforcement (the Drug Enforcement Agency and FBI) investigation into a human and drug trafficking scheme.
During these investigations, the athletes provided intelligence to federal law enforcement, USADA, and the IF that led to criminal charges and anti-doping rule violations. USADA collaborated closely with WADA and the IF to ensure that those engaging in doping violations, as well as criminal offenses, were identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent possible. WADA was notified of the violations and sanction, and WADA did not appeal them, though they had the right to do so. The Code allows for substantial assistance, such as what was provided in this case, and WADA did not initiate a compliance case against USADA as they should have if they truly believed we failed to follow the rules.
When USADA and other anti-doping organizations obtain information about misconduct and potential violations, it’s critical that we pursue the truth with all the resources at our disposal, and there are protections for both whistleblowers and those who provide substantial assistance. These provisions allow us to confront organized criminal and doping schemes to further protect clean and safe sport. We are sad for clean athletes that WADA’s current leadership seems more interested in their own reputation than actually doing the work to protect clean sport, using the available tools to investigate, or winning the fight for clean athletes.”
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