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Both WADA and U.S. officials expressed the need
for cooperation and dialogue during a virtual Foundation Board
meeting but it was clear WADA is taking the threat seriously,
saying it had prepared two budgets for 2021, one that includes
U.S. funding and another that does not.
Believing the U.S. threat exposed gaps in the WADA Code, the
executive committee and Foundation Board discussed possible
sanctions to member countries for unilaterally withdrawing
agreed funding, further angering the U.S.
A White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
report in June recommended the U.S. Congress hold back funding
unless it receives a greater voice in WADA decision making and
reforms immediately implemented.
"The United States strongly opposes any attempt to amend the
Code to penalise public authorities that decide to withdraw
funds from WADA," ONDCP spokesperson Anthony Jones told the
Foundation Board.
"We see it as a personal attack on the United States and it
would be contrary to WADA's stated desire to improve
relationships with the United States government.
"The WADA 2021 Code has not even come into effect yet, yet WADA
is seeking to revise the Code to single out the United States
government.
"We view this as an affront to the sovereignty of the law of
public authorities and it would undermine the legitimate
authority of governments to independently evaluate whether to
spend public funds."
The WADA budget for 2021 was set at $43.4 million, chief
financial officer Dao Chung outlining two scenarios, one
including the U.S. contribution of $2.9 million and one without.
If the U.S. does follow through on its threat, Chung said it
would force WADA to make cuts but hoped to mitigate any losses
with additional contributions from public authorities.
The U.S. used the meeting to air a long list of grievances
ranging from WADA's concerns over the Rodchenkov Act, now
waiting approval in the U.S. Senate, to former WADA boss Dick
Pound being named an honorary president.
WADA has expressed concern that the Rodchenkov Act, named after
the whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov who helped expose Russia's
state-sponsored doping, could destabilise the global anti-doping
effort while giving U.S. professional and college athletes a
free pass.
"The major leagues and college sports the majority of U.S.
athletes around 80 to 90% are outside the WADA regulatory regime
and anti-doping Code requirements," WADA president Witold Banka
said.
"I am concerned these athletes will not be covered by the
Rodchenkov Act, that was made possible by an initial amendment
to the bill."
The ONDCP, however, sees WADA's comments as nothing more than
meddling in U.S. affairs.
"The United States advises against WADA's continued opposition
to the Rodchenkov," Jones said. "We duly oppose WADA's
interference in the affairs of a sovereign nation."
(Reporting by Steve Keating in Toronto, Editing by Ed Osmond)
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