China Says U.S. Let Athletes Cheat and Get Away with Doping—Wants Full Investigation

China’s Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) has accused the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) of violating global regulations and covering up these violations, calling for an independent investigation.

According to a report from China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency, CHINADA released a statement revealing that, since 2011, at least three athletes who committed serious anti-doping rule violations were permitted to continue competing without any sanctions due to leniency from the USADA. This information came to light following disclosures by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

CHINADA criticized these practices, stating, “These actions severely violate global regulations and USADA’s own rules, undermine the principles of fair play in sports, and reveal a significant lack of transparency in USADA’s anti-doping operations.”

CHINADA further demanded that the U.S. Congress and the USADA Board acknowledge the doping issues within the U.S. and the serious management flaws in USADA.

This move is seen as related to ongoing doping allegations raised by the U.S. and other Western nations against Chinese swimmers participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Just a few days earlier, on the 6th, CHINADA issued a statement accusing the U.S. of applying double standards to its own athletes.

They specifically mentioned that USADA did not penalize U.S. track athlete Erriyon Knighton, who tested positive for steroids in March and even allowed him to participate in the Olympics.

Separately, Gao Zhidan, the Director of China’s General Administration of Sport, met with Gene Sykes, the chairman of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, at China House in Paris to discuss doping issues. China established the China House for the Paris Olympics.