U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn announced the introduction of a bipartisan bill aimed at withholding funding for the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) if the organization fails to ensure that athletes compete in the Olympics without drug assistance. Blackburn shared her statement in an August 5 post on X.
"Last week, I introduced a bill with @ChrisVanHollen to cut funding for the World Anti-Doping Agency if it fails to promote fair play," said Blackburn. "@wada_ama must answer for turning a blind eye to the Chinese doping scandal."
According to the Washington Post, 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for drugs seven months before the 2021 Tokyo Games. WADA allowed these athletes to compete, and 11 of them participated, winning three gold medals. WADA "failed to disclose the positive tests when they occurred, contrary to standard procedures." The urine samples showed evidence of trimetazidine (TMZ), a heart medication banned as a performance-enhancing drug that increases stamina in athletes.
In a letter to WADA President Witold Banka, Senators Blackburn, John Hickenlooper, and Richard Blumenthal expressed their "concerns regarding the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)’s failure to enforce international anti-doping standards," specifically referring to the incident involving Chinese swimmers at the 2021 Olympics. The letter stated that "WADA has shown questionable ethical behavior," citing instances of taking "commercial sponsorships from organizations with questionable ties." Attached to the letter were relevant questions about "International anti-doping rules" and "corporate sponsorships."
The Restoring Confidence in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Act was introduced by Senators Blackburn and Chris Van Hollen alongside U.S. Representatives John Moolenaar and Raja Krishnamoorthi, according to a press release. The aim of the bill is to allow the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy to withhold monetary dues to WADA if it fails to fully certify drug-negative Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The bill would incentivize more transparency from WADA, according to Blackburn's press release. She said, "As the largest financial contributor to the World Anti-Doping Agency, the U.S. deserves to have complete confidence in WADA’s ability to regulate unlawful doping so that every athlete gets a fair shot no matter their sport or country."
Blackburn has served in the U.S. Senate since January 2019, according to her website. She is a member of multiple committees, including Finance, Veterans Affairs Committee, and Judiciary. She also serves as Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law and the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security.
