The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has appointed a special prosecutor to investigate how 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned drug were allowed to compete at the 2021 Olympics and win gold medals without facing public scrutiny. The decision to appoint Eric Cottier of Switzerland as the special prosecutor comes after widespread outcry from top government officials, antidoping experts, and athletes.
WADA President Witold Banka stated, “WADA’s integrity and reputation is under attack,” in response to the allegations made against the agency following a report by The New York Times. The report revealed that Chinese antidoping officials and WADA did not discipline or identify the 23 swimmers who tested positive for banned substances.
The special prosecutor will have full access to WADA’s files and documents related to the case and will investigate whether the decision to clear the Chinese athletes of doping was reasonable. The prosecutor will also examine if China received preferential treatment from WADA.
The announcement of the special prosecutor comes after days of defending WADA’s handling of the case. The Biden administration’s top drug official, Rahul Gupta, praised the appointment of the special prosecutor, calling it an important step in addressing the recent doping allegations.
However, not everyone is convinced of WADA’s motives. Travis T. Tygart, the head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, criticized the appointment of the special prosecutor, calling it a “whitewash” and questioning WADA’s ability to follow its own rules.
Concern about the positive tests has only grown since the details of the cases were made public. Antidoping authorities in Britain and Australia have called for an independent review, and national swimming governing bodies, athletes, and government officials around the world have echoed these demands.
The appointment of the special prosecutor marks a significant development in the ongoing controversy surrounding the Chinese swimmers and raises questions about the integrity of the antidoping system in international sports.
