“WADA leaders’ intent to push aside truly independent National Anti-Doping Organizations and hand control back to sport and sport service providers at major events is a dangerous step backwards and risks compromising the fairness of major events and athletes’ right to fair competition. Dressing this up as progress is an attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of clean athletes, fans, and the public who deserve real independence, real accountability, and a system that protects them—not one that protects sport from scrutiny and the global anti-doping watchdog from accountability. As noted in the recent open letter from the White House ONDCP (Office of National Drug Control Policy) Director Sara Carter, this is of particular importance with the Olympic and Paralympic Games coming to the United States in 2028.
For this to be the response to WADA’s and World Aquatics’ failure to enforce the mandatory rules in the 23 Chinese swimming cases is another slap in the face by WADA leadership to all athletes who commit to competing clean and nations that enforce the rules consistently and fairly.”
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