Chinese doping scandal: Calls for World Anti-Doping Agency to be disbanded, replaced before Olympics

The Chinese swimming scandal which has rocked the sporting world could claim a high-profile target – with the World Anti-Doping Agency suddenly in the crosshairs ahead of the Paris Olympics.

China has been dragged into another doping scandal. Picture: Getty

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has come under renewed attack over its failure to investigate the Chinese swimming scandal that has rocked the sports world – with calls for the body to be disbanded and replaced ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Global Athlete and FairSport have released a joint statement demanding a full and independent review into the case of the 23 Chinese swimmers who were let off despite testing positive to the well-known banned drug trimetazidine.

As first reported by this masthead, Chinese officials went against conventional anti-doping practices when they cleared all the swimmers of any wrongdoing after almost two dozen tested positive at a training camp before the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

WADA said it looked at the files and was satisfied that everything was above board so there was no need for any further investigation but the sports world is up in arms and wants the case reopened and handed to an independent body.

“If WADA refuses to release the data publicly, this event represents another catastrophic failure of the global anti-doping system and underscores the need to dismantle the WADA structure to pave the way for a complete rebuild,” the statement read.

The sporting world is outraged that Chinese swimmers were cleared of wrongdoing ahead of the Tokyo Games. Picture: Getty

“For twenty-three positive tests in one sport from one country to occur without consequence and/or an investigation highlights the clear need to reconstruct WADA and its leadership, which have failed to uphold the rules they are tasked to enforce and protect.

“Since 2016, athletes have been demanding an overhaul of WADA. These demands have been met with superficial reforms that keep power in the hands of those more interested in protecting the brand than clean sport. Athletes can no longer accept Band-Aid solutions to a haemorrhaging anti-doping system.

The alleged failures exposed over the past few days undermine the entire global system of fair and clean sport. When leadership fails to comply with and enforce the rules, athletes are defrauded, their livelihoods are put at risk, and they lose the ability to succeed through talent, hard work, and perseverance alone.

“If the allegations are true, WADA’s top leadership has harmed current and future athletes, billions of fans, and the sporting community at large by diminishing the trustworthiness and value of international sport.”

WADA President Witold Bańka is under pressure following the stunning revelations. Picture: Getty

The German government has also weighed in, describing the case as a ‘slap in the face’ to clean athletes.

“Just a few months before the Olympic Games, the suspicion the case was ignored or even covered up must be fully investigated as quickly as possible. If there’s such a serious suspicion of doping, then it must be independently investigated by WADA,” the Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser told the dpa German news agency.

“If confirmed that Chinese swimmers were able to become Olympic champions in Tokyo despite previous evidence of doping, that would be a disaster for world sport.

“This case is a slap in the face of all innocent and honest athletes.”

Germany’s Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser. Picture: Getty

The German swimming federation said the lack of openness about the procedures raised doubts about the entire anti-doping system.

“(It) reminds us that transparency is an indispensable part of the anti-doping fight,” DSV sporting director Christian Hansmann said .

“Any lack of it not only shakes the trust in individual institutions, but also in the credibility of the entire sport.”

USA Swimming said it was ‘disappointed’ by the revelations and wanted the matter looked into.

“USA Swimming remains steadfastly committed to clean sport at all levels of competition. Our elite athletes, who are tested regularly and whose everyday lives and training are impacted by stringent testing protocols, deserve a level playing field,” USA Swimming said in a statement.

“We uphold the highest standards of anti-doping policies by facilitating strict USADA testing at domestic competitions and by proactively offering education and support so that all American athletes understand the tenets of clean sport. USA Swimming is extremely disappointed to hear the allegations reported, and looks forward to swift action and resolution.”