Salt Lake City finds itself at the center of a controversy threatening to strip it of the right to host the 2034 Winter Olympic Games. Despite securing the bid last July, the city faces mounting tensions stemming from an agreement signed between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the United States. This pact conditions the Games’ realization on respecting the “supreme authority” of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), a subject that has sparked friction between the U.S. government and Olympic authorities.
The issue has its roots in WADA’s decision to allow 23 Chinese swimmers to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics despite positive doping tests. This triggered an investigation by U.S. authorities, fueling criticism of WADA and leading to a standoff that could cost Utah its second Olympic opportunity. According to Utah Governor Spencer Cox, accepting the agreement was the only way to secure the bid, but criticism has since persisted both domestically and internationally.
A CONFLICT BEYOND SPORTS
The controversy is not limited to local disputes. The New York Times recently reported that neither U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) President Gene Sykes nor Salt Lake City representatives have taken concrete steps to fulfill promises made to the IOC. Additionally, the U.S. government has withheld its annual payments to WADA, demanding an independent audit beforehand. Meanwhile, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has intensified its criticism of WADA, accusing it of covering up doping results that emerged before the Paris 2024 Games.
The situation is further complicated by the Rodchenkov Act, a U.S. law that extends federal jurisdiction to international doping cases. This legislation, opposed by both the IOC and WADA, has heightened tensions between the entities, especially with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics on the horizon. With an incoming president who championed the law and IOC candidates prioritizing anti-doping efforts in their agendas, the future of the 2034 Winter Games in Salt Lake City remains uncertain.
