The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), at the heart of a case linked to the positive tests of 23 Chinese swimmers in 2021 which is shaking the world of anti-doping, appointed an independent prosecutor on Thursday to examine its management of the case, three months away of the Paris Olympic Games.
At the same time, the agency will “soon” launch a compliance audit in China to “evaluate the current state of its anti-doping program”, it added in its press release.
WADA has faced criticism since media reports revealed last weekend that Chinese swimmers had tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) – which can enhance performance – ahead of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, but had not been sanctioned.
WADA said it accepted the Chinese authorities’ argument that it was caused by food contamination.
“The integrity and reputation of WADA are under attack,” once again denounced Witold Banka, its president. “We continue to reject the false accusations and are pleased to be able to entrust these matters to an experienced, respected and independent prosecutor,” he added.
The decision to appoint Eric Cottier, a retired Swiss prosecutor, was taken unanimously by the executive committee which met virtually on Thursday.
The latter will benefit from “complete and unhindered access to all WADA files and documents relating to this matter” and must render its conclusions within two months, explains WADA.
Its mission is to assess whether there was any bias in favor of China, “undue interference or other irregularity” in the handling of the case.
The prosecutor, who served as prosecutor of the canton of Vaud for 17 years until his retirement in 2022, will also have to determine whether the choice not to appeal Chinada’s decision was reasonable.
“Deal with the matter before the Olympics”
Since Saturday, the affair has raised questions about the transparency and fairness of global anti-doping, already shaken a few years ago by the incredible cheating of another sporting giant: Russia.
The role of WADA, whose headquarters is in Montreal, consists in particular of monitoring the legality of the procedures of anti-doping agencies. She has the possibility of seizing the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to challenge a decision of an anti-doping agency, which she did for example in the case of the Russian skater Valieva.
Very upset, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) notably called on Tuesday for an overhaul of WADA and an independent investigation into this matter.
She called on “governments and the sporting movement to reform WADA to ensure that it is never again possible to suppress positive samples on the eve of the Olympic Games”.
Beijing on Monday called doping allegations “fallacious” through Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin.
Regarding the upcoming inspection in China, WADA announced that it would “invite a number of independent auditors from the broad anti-doping community to join the audit team for this mission”.
This visit is part of its regular compliance monitoring program, according to WADA.
“While no evidence has been presented to support the allegations made against WADA, we wish to address this matter as quickly and thoroughly as possible so that it is properly managed ahead of the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris,” explained Olivier Niggli, the director general of the anti-doping police.
In the past, several doping scandals have rocked Chinese swimming.
At the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, seven Chinese swimmers tested positive for steroids.
In 1998, swimmer Yuan Yuan was banned after Australian customs discovered large quantities of growth hormone in her luggage during the World Championships in Perth.
reference: www.lapresse.ca