The World Anti -Doping Agency has launched a defamation lawsuit against its American colleague, which is a major withdrawal for the agency after almost a year of conflict escalation for the treatment of positive drugs for a banned drug of 23 elites Chinese swimmer.
The decision of the agency-known by his acronyms, Wada-Da quit the lawsuit he filed in the Swiss court, followed a few months after he responded angrily to T. Tygart’s travis comments, leaders of the US AntinDoping Agency. Mr. Tygart accused Wada of hiding tests after the New York Times discovered Details of how swimmers in China found banned drugs in their systems at competition just months before the Olympic Games in Tokyo.
This revelation has led to anger and recruitment among athletes and antidoping regulators around the world, including a deep rupture in the already strenuous relationship between Wada and the United States. The United States contributed more than any other country to WADA budget, but withdrew funds on suspicion that WADA’s leadership was on the task of maintaining sports pure.
On top of that he moved away from the defamation lawsuit, Wada also retired in another issue: he gave up an ethical case against Dr. Rahula Gupta, who represented the United States in the WADA Executive Board during the Biden Management Board.
Wada official claimed that Dr. Gupta, who was a drug emperor in the Biden White House, failed to reveal to the agency what he knew about the investigation of the Ministry of Justice about how to deal with the tests of Chinese swimmers. Dr. Gupta said he knew nothing about the investigation, managed by the US lawyer in Boston.
“The release of unauthorized and unfounded lawsuits against URA and the ethical complaint against the White House is complete revenge for both of us,” the US Anti-Doping Agency states in a statement.
“Wada actions were nothing but retaliation, wasteful and violent attempts to suppress the truth and the voice of those who seek answers to why Wada allowed China not to sharply respect the rules for 23 elite swimmers who tested positively,” the statement said.
In a statement, Wada attacked Mr. Tygart, insisted that it did nothing wrong with the way he acted with positive tests and did not provide the specifics why he was moving away from the suit.
“In the interest of going and focusing our efforts to strengthen the global anti -doping system that the community has worked hard to build together over 25 years, Wada has made a decision to withdraw a lawsuit against Mr. Tygart and Insada,” “World Antis -Doping Agency said . “The lawsuit was ever only in the protection of the Wada reputation (indeed, no financial fee was sought).”
In July, Wada opened an ethical investigation by Dr. Gupta after receiving an anonymous appeal against him, which US officials believe was filed by senior Wada official. Mette Hartlev, chairman of the Independent Ethics Committee of the Agency, wrote Dr. Gupt on January 30 to tell him that the matter was closed, the document stated by The Times said.
Swiss lawyers of the World Anti -Doping Agency wrote to lawyers who represented Mr. Tygart and the US Anti -Doping Agency a week later, they said that the defamation case had been rejected. WADA lawyers wrote that Turwabout was because Wada’s “the sole goal of” protecting her reputation “achieved by non-voyed means,” without giving details.
Secretary General Wada, Olivier Niggli, confirmed that the Agency had rejected a lawsuit to members of its executive board in a letter. The letter was first reported by Enert Sport, an internet publication that focused on sports integrity.
“Although we are still convinced that the lawsuit will be successful in their merits, we have found that it is in vain to argue with someone who does not want to accept clear evidence, whose only goal is to damage Wada and the global system for fighting a county,” the letter said.
Dr. Gupta had a different interpretation.
Wada’s moves to give up on their claims, he told the UE comments to the Times: “They clearly show the beheaded and politically motivated claims that Wada leaders tried to continue against the United States.”
Some of the Chinese swimmers who tested positively continued to win medals, including Golds, at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. After the revelation of the earlier positive tests and the decision of WADA that the swimmers do not impose any sanctions, Congress asked for testimonies from antidoping of officials. For months, an investigation of the Ministry of Justice has touched sports and anti -doping officials around the world.
The United States, through Dr. Gupta, asked Wada to take over the independent audit of his business in the light of Chinese cases. Wada resisted and, according to Dr. Gupta, she took revenge against the United States.
“These actions are not just harmful to the integrity of global effort for antidoping, but show a clear example of why the WADA reform is urgently needed,” he said.
The tension appeared before the meeting of the Wada Committee in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December. Prior to the meeting, Dr. Gupta asked for the Agency to file an audit and also dismiss a defamation lawsuit against American anti -doping authorities, which repeatedly accused Wad of hiding failed Chinese tests if she wanted to continue receiving the financing of the United States.
Wada opposed by saying that she would be a consequence – including damage to US efforts to set international sports events – if it does not make payments. The Americans continued to keep the funds. Next summer Olympic Games are held in Los Angeles in 2028, two years after the United States hosted most of the football cup for men in 2026.
