The World Anti-Doping Agency has a credibility problem. © AFP / ANDREJ IVANOV

Doping vortex: “Crisis of credibility in world sport”

In the affair surrounding numerous positive doping tests among top Chinese swimmers and how they are dealt with, anger and incomprehension are growing among athletes.

22 April 2024

From: dpa

“The latest revelations threaten to make clean athletes completely resign,” said Maximilian Klein, director of sports policy at the German Athletes Association, on Monday. “Shortly before the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the credibility crisis in world sport and the anti-doping fight is worsening again.” Trust in WADA has been shaken.

The World Anti-Doping Agency sees it differently. Its president Witold Banka said at a press conference on Monday: “No credible evidence of wrongdoing has been presented.” The Pole continued: “We would do exactly the same thing if we had to do it again now.”

Wada in criticism

Travis Tygart, head of the US Anti-Doping Agency, accused the world authority and China of sweeping the positive tests under the carpet. WADA defended its decision not to impose sanctions. “The agency remains committed to the results of its scientific investigation and the legal decisions in this case,” the agency said on Monday night. All allegations in the matter have been examined, but there is not enough evidence to initiate new investigations.

Media reports had previously raised doubts about the role of Wada and the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency in the fight against sports fraud. According to research by the ARD doping editorial team and the “New York Times” as well as a report by the Australian newspaper “Daily Telegraph”, 23 top swimmers tested positive for the banned heart drug trimetazidine at a national competition in China at the beginning of 2021.