The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has issued a strong condemnation of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in response to a Reuters exposé published on August 7, 2024. The report revealed that USADA allowed athletes with confirmed doping violations to continue competing for years without proper sanctions or public disclosure, in violation of the World Anti-Doping Code and USADA’s own regulations.
According to WADA, USADA’s practice of permitting these athletes to compete while they supposedly assisted in investigations was a blatant breach of the Code’s goal to protect the integrity of sports. WADA clarified that it never sanctioned this practice, which involved letting athletes who had doped remain active competitors while gathering evidence against others. Such a scheme disregarded the Code’s requirements, which include a formal process for reducing an athlete’s suspension based on their assistance. This process does not allow for ongoing competition while athletes could still benefit from performance-enhancing substances.
WADA discovered this non-compliant practice in 2021 and immediately instructed USADA to cease it. The agency reported that there were at least three cases where athletes who had committed serious anti-doping rule violations were allowed to compete for years while serving as undercover agents for USADA. USADA failed to notify WADA of these practices or provide any procedural justification, which was a clear breach of both the Code and USADA’s own rules.
One notable case involved an elite athlete who competed in Olympic qualifiers and international events in the U.S. Despite admitting to using steroids and EPO, the athlete continued to compete until retirement. No sanctions were applied, no results were disqualified, and no prize money was returned. The case was kept confidential at USADA’s request, citing security concerns for the athlete, which WADA reluctantly agreed to after verifying the credibility of the threat.
In another instance, USADA did not inform WADA about lifting a provisional suspension on a high-level athlete, a decision that should have been communicated under the Code. Had WADA been aware, it would have challenged the decision.
WADA expressed concern over the fairness for athletes competing in good faith against those whom USADA knew to be cheaters. The agency criticized USADA for its hypocrisy, accusing it of overlooking doping cases while criticizing other Anti-Doping Organizations for similar breaches. WADA also questioned whether USADA’s Board of Directors or U.S. Congress, which funds USADA, were aware of these practices, which undermined the integrity of sports and jeopardized the security of cooperating athletes.
The situation highlights significant issues within the anti-doping system and raises questions about the oversight and governance of agencies responsible for maintaining fair competition in sports.
