The Home of Representatives’ Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations is holding a listening to on Tuesday targeted on the anti-doping system forward of the Paris Olympics subsequent month.
Among the many confirmed witnesses are 23-time Olympic champion Michael Phelps, 10-time Olympic medalist Allison Schmitt, and U.S. Anti-Doping Company (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart. World Anti-Doping Company (WADA) president Witold Banka was additionally invited, however his attendance has not been confirmed.
Final month, Katie Ledecky mentioned her religion within the Olympic anti-doping system was at an “all-time low” following stories in April that 23 Chinese language swimmers examined optimistic for trimetazidine (TMZ) seven months earlier than the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. They have been by no means provisionally banned, and three (Zhang Yufei, Wang Shun, and Yang Junxuan) went on to win Olympic gold medals in Tokyo after their optimistic checks have been chalked as much as contamination from their lodge kitchen.
“Olympic athletes dedicate years of their lives to excellent their craft with a view to symbolize america on the world stage,” Home Vitality and Commerce Committee chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations chair Morgan Griffith (R-VA) mentioned in a joint assertion. “They—in addition to athletes from each different nation—should compete on a degree taking part in discipline that’s freed from banned efficiency enhancing medication. The World Anti-Doping Company, the governing physique accountable for imposing truthful requirements, has a questionable observe report of fulfilling that mission. This listening to will give Members an opportunity to look at that observe report, determine alternatives for enchancment, and be certain that the most effective athletes are those taking dwelling gold medals.”
Banka was additionally invited to a listening to earlier than the Sports activities Committee of the German Bundestag in late Could, however he declined resulting from prior commitments.
“(Allegations of) mass doping of Chinese language swimmers and a deliberate cover-up by WADA are totally false,” Banka wrote to the German Bundestag final month. “The analytical ends in these instances have been merely not suitable with doping.”
A separate Home committee on China known as final month for the Division of Justice to research WADA’s dealing with of the 2021 Chinese language doping controversy.
In April, WADA appointed a Swiss prosecutor to evaluation the case after catching criticism from the White Home, USADA, and worldwide swimming federations. Findings are anticipated to be launched proper earlier than the Paris Olympics subsequent month. Among the many fundamental questions is why the Chinese language swimmers weren’t provisionally suspended after testing optimistic for TMZ.
The U.S. is a serious contributor to WADA, funding nearly $3 million of the group’s $43.4 million finances in 2021. Half of WADA’s funding got here from the Worldwide Olympic Committee.
The listening to will likely be streamed right here at 7 p.m. EST on Tuesday.
