Doping-US withholds WADA dues, calls for reforms to global watchdog By Reuters

By Amy Tennery

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The United States has withheld 2024 dues payments to the World Anti-Doping Agency, the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy told Reuters on Wednesday, calling for reforms to the global sports watchdog.

The move comes amid a long-running dispute between the US and WADA over an investigation into 23 Chinese swimmers who failed drug tests weeks before the 2021 Tokyo Olympics but were allowed to compete.

The ONDCP said it “has not yet decided to pay the payments to WADA” that were due by Dec. 31.

“ONDCP is evaluating all our options as we continue to push WADA to adopt sensible reforms to restore confidence in the global anti-doping system and give athletes the full confidence they deserve,” Director Rahul Gupta said in a statement.

“WADA must take concrete action to restore confidence in the global anti-doping system and give athletes the full confidence they deserve.”

Gupta began as a member of WADA’s 16-member Executive Committee as America’s representative from the Public Authority in April 2023, and his term was not due until April 2026.

WADA did not directly comment on ONDCP’s statement and had no immediate comment on ONDCP’s position that it was undecided whether to pay its bill.

WADA said unpaid fees totaled $3.625 million.

It has set its 2025 operating budget at $57.5 million, a WADA spokesman said, adding that any member of the executive committee representing a country that does not pay its annual contribution automatically loses its seat.

An investigator selected by the World Anti-Doping Agency said in July that WADA had not mishandled the case involving the Chinese swimmers and reiterated those findings in September.

The US Anti-Doping Agency celebrated ONDCP’s stance, calling the position “the only right choice.”

“Current WADA leaders have left the US with no choice after failing to meet some very reasonable demands, such as an independent audit of WADA’s operations, to achieve the transparency and accountability necessary to ensure that WADA fit to protect athletes,” USADA CEO Travis Tygart said in a statement.