Despite the dual awarding of the Winter Olympics to Los Angeles 2028 and Salt Lake City 2034, the relationship between the United States and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) remains strained by distrust and financial conflicts. At WADA’s recent Executive Committee meeting in Montreal, funding concerns resurfaced, with the U.S. debt at the center of the debate.
The case of the Chinese swimmer revealed in April 2024, in which 23 athletes tested positive for trimetazidine before Tokyo 2021, reignited tensions. The strong response from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) led the Biden administration to withhold funds intended for WADA, triggering retaliatory measures, including the removal of the U.S. government representative from the agency’s board. Despite WADA’s efforts to depoliticize the situation, distrust persists, particularly regarding doping cases involving China.
FUNDING AND POLITICAL PRESSURE
WADA’s Executive Committee reaffirmed the importance of honoring financial commitments established since the agency’s founding in 1999, warning that withholding funds jeopardizes the global fight against doping. The United States, which was expected to contribute $3.6 million in 2024, has yet to fulfill its obligation, accounting for 14% of WADA’s annual budget.
The issue extends beyond the U.S.; Russia’s annual fee also remains suspended, with WADA confirming that the country has not paid its 2023 or 2024 dues. Meanwhile, the Trump administration will have to decide whether to reinstate funding, as lawmakers demand greater transparency in the use of funds and assurances that WADA will take concrete steps to restore confidence in the anti-doping system.
Despite, Thomas Bach’s efforts to improve relations with the U.S., funding and politics continue to be deeply intertwined in the anti-doping debate. With WADA’s presidential election set for May and upcoming revisions to the World Anti-Doping Code in 2027, the agency faces the challenge of balancing the fight against doping with political and economic pressures from governments.
