Australia steers clear of America’s WADA funding threat over Chinese doping scandal

The Albanese government is facing questions over why it did not match America and hold up funding to the World Anti-Doping Agency over its handling of Chinese swimmers’ positive tests.

Exclusive: The Albanese government is under pressure to explain why it did not follow America’s lead and hold up its funding to the World Anti-Doping Agency in a bid to force a probe into the watchdog’s handling of the Chinese swimming doping scandal.

US authorities have been on the warpath since it was revealed earlier this year that WADA secretly decided not to discipline 23 elite Chinese swimmers who tested positive to a banned substance before the Tokyo Olympics.

The FBI launched a criminal investigation and the Biden administration reportedly moved to hold up its $US3.6m contribution to the watchdog unless it agreed to an external audit.

But Australia provided its annual contribution to WADA of $US546,097 last month, prompting questions from opposition sport spokeswoman Anne Ruston.

“The Albanese government must explain their position on this matter, why they are not following the US government’s actions, and what steps they are taking to ensure sporting bodies are acting in line with their responsibilities,” she said.

China's Sun Yang, centre, holds up his gold medal as silver medallist Australia's Mack Horton, left, stands away from the podium with bronze medallist Italy's Gabriele Detti at right, after the men's 400m freestyle final at the World Swimming Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. Picture: AP

A government spokesman responded that the government “supports the role of WADA in ensuring a thorough, fair and transparent global anti-doping system”.

It is understood Australia is awaiting the findings of a working group set up in September to act on a WADA-ordered investigation which the watchdog declared had backed its handling of the scandal – a conclusion blasted by US Anti-Doping Agency boss Travis Tygart.

He said that investigation showed “China did not follow the rules, and that WADA management did nothing about it”.

The stoush is set to reignite in Saudi Arabia this week, where WADA’s top decision-making bodies are holding a series of high-level meetings, including to review the working group’s recommendations to improve the watchdog’s processes.

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) President Witold Banka (L) and WADA's Director General Olivier Niggli. Picture: AFP

A WADA spokesman said the organisation – which is charged with leading the global fight against drugs in sport – had not received any notification from the Biden administration that it would withhold its funding. The US provides more money to WADA than any other country.

“WADA is unaware of any conditions that the US government wishes to attach to such payment,” the spokesman said, adding that the body’s rules did not allow for a government to “unilaterally withhold its contribution based on its own set of conditions”.

But the White House’s drugs tsar Dr Rahul Gupta told The New York Times last week that the US would use “every tool that’s in the toolbox” to push WADA to be more transparent and “create a level playing field for American athletes and those all across the globe”.

The US Congress has also been considering bipartisan laws to empower the White House to withhold funding to WADA “if the organisation fails to operate as a fair and independent actor to ensure athletes are competing in drug-free Olympic and Paralympic Games”.

Australian stars expressed their frustration during this year’s Paris Games as they competed against Chinese swimmers who tested positive to the banned drug trimetazidine in 2021. WADA had accepted China’s finding that the results were due to contaminated food.

Australian swimmer Shayna Jack, pictured here during the Womens 100m freestyle semi-final in Paris. Picture: Adam Head

Prominent sports lawyer Tim Fuller, who oversaw Australian swimmer Shayna Jack’s long fight to clear her name, said the Americans were right to demand answers over WADA’s different application of the rules around anti-doping.

While Jack served a two-year ban after testing positive for ligandrol despite investigators agreeing that she had ingested the substance unknowingly, the 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive to TMZ were all let off scot-free.

“The investigation by the USA into the fairness of WADA and their decision making is completely warranted,” Fuller told this masthead.

“Any examination of recent WADA decisions reveals stark inconsistency in their decision making. The USA is asking questions – and until answers to their questions are attained, withholding funding is justified. If Australia follows suit, they would be perfectly entitled to.”

Asked whether the Australian government should be asking more questions of WADA, Fuller replied: “They should – perplexing decision making erodes confidence from athletes and administrators in WADA.

“The open forum in which questions were recently asked of WADA is welcomed. Encourage more of these opportunities…..make WADA accountable to not just the lawyers but participants in sport…athletes, media, coaching etc. Hold more live-streamed hearings (i.e. Sun Yang).”