Memphis Standard

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) held a virtual press conference with Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), House Select Committee on the CCP Chairman John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) to announce their Restoring Confidence in the World Anti-Doping Agency Act. The proposed legislation aims to bring accountability and transparency to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) following a Chinese doping scandal related to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Recent reports have also revealed a new doping dispute involving two Chinese athletes who tested positive for a banned steroid in 2022 but were secretly cleared by Chinese authorities.

The members were joined by Allison Wagner, an Olympic silver medalist and former world-record holder, and Greta Neimanas, a two-time Paralympian and advocate for fair play through anti-doping measures.

During the press conference, Blackburn highlighted WADA's failure to investigate allegations of doping by 23 Chinese swimmers before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. "Instead of opening an investigation into the allegations at the time, WADA blindly accepted the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency’s excuse that the doping was unintentional and caused by food contamination," she said. She noted that eleven of those athletes are currently competing in the Paris Olympics without facing any accountability.

Blackburn also addressed recent reports indicating that two Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned steroid in 2022 but were cleared by Chinese authorities. "China once again blamed food contamination," she stated, criticizing WADA for not ensuring an even playing field.

The senator mentioned her efforts earlier this year when she sent a letter with Senators Hickenlooper and Blumenthal to WADA President Witold Bańka demanding explanations for these failures. According to Blackburn, WADA refused to answer several questions regarding potential conflicts of interest.

Furthermore, Blackburn accused officials from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and WADA of attempting to pressure the U.S. into dropping an FBI investigation into the doping scandal by threatening Salt Lake City’s bid to host the Winter Games in 2034.

"Our message is simple: we will not be silenced for trying to promote fair play," Blackburn asserted. The proposed legislation would allow the U.S. to withhold funding from WADA if it does not ensure fair representation on its governing bodies and address potential conflicts of interest.

Earlier reports indicated that 23 top Chinese swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine, a performance-enhancing drug, just months before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Despite this, nearly half of these swimmers went on to win medals at the Olympics.

As one of WADA's largest financial contributors, American athletes should feel confident in global anti-doping policies' fairness and enforcement. When such regulatory bodies fail, it undermines athletes' trust and aspirations.