USADA supported the decision of the US authorities to withhold payment of the WADA contribution

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) supported the decision of the White House to withhold the payment of the contribution to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for 2024. The corresponding statement of the head of USADA Travis Tygart was published on January 8 on the website of the organization.

There noted that the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) delayed payment of the contribution to the World Anti-Doping Agency in the amount of $3.6 million.

"USADA fully supports this decision by the White House ONDCP as the only appropriate choice to protect athletes' rights, accountability and fair competition," the organization's head said in a statement.

Tygart pointed to the inefficiency of WADA's work, recalling the scandal with Chinese swimmers.

In addition, he said, non-payment of dues for 2024 will not affect the rights of athletes from the United States.

"The WADA statutes are very clear that non-payment of voluntary contributions does not affect athletes in any way, even if the U.S. payment for 2024 is never paid," he emphasized.

Earlier, in August 2024, members of the US Congress demanded from WADA and its president Witold Banka a detailed investigation into the doping case of 23 Chinese swimmers. Members of Congress noted that the head of USADA has already emphasized the inconsistent application of WADA rules. In particular, he disagrees with the decisions regarding Chinese and Russian sports teams.

Before that, in July 2024, Banka said during the session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Paris that the U.S. could be isolated from world sport if it continues its confrontational course on the issue of global anti-doping rules.