USA accused of clearing ‘secret’ failed doping tests as China demand investigation

Amid souring tensions between the USA and China, the World Anti-Doping Agency has hit back at the Americans

The USA’s anti-doping agency has been accused of double standards by the World Anti-Doping Agency after a renewed spotlight was cast on a member of its sprinting team at the Paris Olympics previously failing a drugs test.
Erriyon Knighton, a world silver medallist who will race in tonight’s men’s 200 metres final, tested positive for the performance enhancer trenbolone during an out-of-competition test in March. The United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada), claimed the substance in his sample came from contaminated meat and cleared him to compete at the Paris Games.
But in a fresh verbal attack on Wednesday night, Wada also said it found at least three cases where athletes who had committed serious anti-doping rule violations were allowed to continue to compete for years.
News of Knighton’s failed test, which was first reported in June, and allegations of a doping cover-up sparked a furious reaction from Chinada, China’s anti-doping agency, who launched a scathing attack on its American counterpart, accusing it of double standards and “covering up the truth”. It also called on the International Testing Agency (ITA) to ramp up testing among American track and field athletes.
Relations between the US and China had already soured at the Games following the revelation that 23 Chinese swimmers had been cleared to compete at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 despite having previously failed a test. The diplomatic row between the two countries escalated on Wednesday after Reuters reported Usada had allowed doped athletes to continue competing despite failing tests.
Wada said it was “aware of at least three cases where athletes who committed serious anti-doping rule violations were allowed to continue competing for years.”
Among those three cases, a high-profile athlete, who notably participated in an Olympic qualifier for the United States, was allowed to compete until his retirement despite taking steroids and EPO.
“It is ironic and hypocritical that Usada cries foul when it suspects other anti-doping organisations of not following the letter of the rules, when it has not announced cases of doping for years and allowed cheats to continue to compete,” Wada said in a statement.
But Usada hit back at Wada, accusing the organisation of taking part in a smear campaign.
“It is sad to see Wada leaders desperately and dangerously trying to smear others, including informants, instead of answering basic questions about why they allowed China to cover up 23 positive TMZ tests and two positive metandienone tests,” Usada said in a statement.
“Ironically, the extensive investigations conducted by Usada and the relevant International Federation, mentioned in Wada’s statement, demonstrate exactly what Wada should have done with the positive results of the Chinese swimmers: gather the evidence to identify the truth and enforce the rules to protect clean sport.”
Travis Tygart, the chief executive of Usada, had led criticism of Wada’s handling of allegations surrounding China’s swimming team, which overshadowed events in the pool at Paris. Eleven of the 23 athletes implicated in the scandal competed in the swimming at Paris.
“If Wada has nothing to hide, they would welcome the chance to answer questions, not run and hide,” said Tygart. “There are basic unanswered questions of how Wada allowed China to sweep 23 tests under the rug.”