Tensions between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and US authorities have now escalated, after the US government defaulted on its 2024 contribution to the global body's annual budget.
The US missed a final deadline of December 31 last year by which to make a contribution payment of $3.6 million, and WADA has now, as a consequence, said representatives from that country will not be able to sit on its foundation board or executive committee.
Go deeper with GlobalData
This dispute comes with the relationship between WADA and the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) having grown increasingly frosty over the last year. The issues began when it became known last year that, in advance of the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games, WADA cleared 23 Chinese swimmers to compete, despite them having tested positive for a banned substance (trimetazidine).
WADA has also been critical of USADA’s practice of using undercover agents to bring doping athletes to light, claiming this is outside WADA’s own rules.
In a statement to The Guardian, WADA said: “Under Article 6.6 of the Wada statutes, public authority representatives from a country which has not paid its dues are ineligible to sit on the foundation board or the executive committee. Therefore, on 1 January of each year, any foundation board or executive committee member representing a country that has not paid its annual contribution for the previous year automatically loses their seat.”
It added that WADA's overall 2025 budget is set at $57.5 million, putting into context the US' missed contribution.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataPutting forward the USADA view, the body's chief executive, Travis Tygart, stated: “USADA fully supports this decision by the United States [government] as the only right choice to protect athletes’ rights and fair competition. Unfortunately, the current WADA leaders left the US with no other option after failing to deliver on several very reasonable requests to achieve the transparency and accountability needed to ensure WADA is fit for purpose to protect athletes of the world.
“Since the exposure of WADA's failed handling of the 23 Chinese swimmers’ positive tests that gave China and its athletes special treatment under the rules, many stakeholders from around the world, including athletes, governments, and national anti-doping agencies, have sought answers, transparency, and accountability from WADA leadership. Significant reform at WADA must occur to ensure this never happens again.”
A report into the Chinese swimmer incident, published independently last year, cleared WADA of bias, but did find that the worldwide agency suffered from “disorganization.”
This serious dispute represents a major crisis for WADA, given that the US is due to host both the 2026 men's FIFA World Cup from soccer, as well as the 2028 Summer Olympics (Los Angeles). It has also been WADA's biggest single funding partner since 2000.
It has been reported as highly unlikely that the US government and administration under President Trump will change its position on this front from the current position under President Biden, who will exit the White House later this month.
WADA has called Tygart's previous remarks – to the effect that the body had betrayed clean athletes around the case of the Chinese swimmers – “completely false and defamatory,” and has said the comments were “politically motivated and delivered with the intention of undermining WADA’s work.”
