WADA head Banka accused the US Anti-Doping Agency of hypocrisy and slander
The head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Witold Banka, criticized the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) over the situation with Chinese swimmers. His words are quoted by RIA Novosti.
Banka accused USADA of hypocrisy and slander. He said that 90 percent of American athletes are not subject to the World Anti-Doping Code, and 31 percent of those who are have not been drug tested.
Banka noted that the situation with the Chinese swimmers is not a case of doping, and moreover, China did not try to hide it. “Despite this, a number of experts and media accuse WADA of favoritism towards China – despite the absence of any arguments. Today I am being attacked by the American media. This probably indicates that we are a truly independent organization,” he concluded.
On April 20, it became known that in January 2021, banned trimetazidine was found in the samples of 23 Chinese swimmers. China said traces of the drug were found in the kitchen of the hotel where the athletes stayed during the competition. WADA considered that there was no evidence indicating doping, so the swimmers were allowed to compete in the Tokyo Olympics.
USADA CEO Travis Tygart accused WADA and the Chinese agency CHINADA of hiding information. Later, the United States questioned the independence of the prosecutor appointed to investigate the case.
Source: Lenta
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