WADA sidelines investigators amid Chinese doping scandal
- In mid-2020, WADA's investigative unit reported on a potential state-backed doping program in China linked to trimetazidine usage among athletes.
- Following warnings, multiple positive tests for trimetazidine were reported among Chinese swimmers, yet WADA's leadership chose to keep this information from the investigative unit.
- This has led to increased scrutiny of WADA's operations and a hold on U.S. funding while investigations are pursued.
In 2020, investigators from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) raised alarms about a state-sponsored doping program in China after interviews with a doctor from the Chinese Sports Ministry. This doctor revealed details of athletes using trimetazidine, a heart medication that enhances performance, which led to China being placed under extra scrutiny. Seven months after the warning, 23 elite Chinese swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine after a national competition in China. Despite the evidence, WADA's leadership decided not to pursue action against China and withheld information from their investigative unit regarding the positive tests. This decision has caused concerns over WADA's commitment to address doping violations effectively, especially in light of previous failures that questioned its integrity regarding doping enforcement in Russia. Furthermore, the U.S. government has put a hold on funding for WADA, calling for a comprehensive audit of its operations. The Justice Department and FBI have also initiated investigations into how anti-doping authorities allowed Chinese athletes to evade scrutiny, indicating significant unrest concerning WADA's internal processes and its treatment of doping violations.