The war of words between anti-doping authorities over the Expanded Games intensified after Usada accused Vada attempts to “denigrate America.”
Travis Tygart, president of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, made the announcement as he hit back at the World Anti-Doping Agency. suggestion that he should do more to stop a pro-doping event due to take place in Las Vegas next year. Tygart said WADA's intervention was a “desperate attempt to divert attention” from his role in Chinese Swimming Scandal 2021.
“For an organization that is reportedly involved in a criminal investigation by US law enforcement, continued and clearly false attacks by the President of WADA [Witold] The can is a telling smokescreen,” Tygart said. “His attempts to smear America and our American Olympic and professional athletes are a desperate attempt to distract attention from his failure to allow China to sweep 23 positive tests under the rug. Those who value clean and fair sport must stand up and demand that Wada be corrected.”
Tygart said the failure to prevent Chinese swimmers who failed drug tests from competing in the Tokyo Games allowed “some athletes… to hold their own extended games.”
Wada and Usada have there was controversy over the Chinese swimming scandal as details were revealed in reports last year. An independent review of the case later criticized WADA's “disorganization” but cleared it of bias. However, in January it was revealed that the US government had not fulfilled its commitment to provide US$3.6 million in funding for the global organization, with Tygart commenting at the time: “Usada fully supports this decision of the United States.” [government] as the only right choice to protect the rights of athletes and fair competition.”
Tygart said Advanced Games has “nothing to do” with U.S. law enforcement. “We are working closely with our partners FIFA and ITA to ensure that this summer's World Cup and the 2028 Olympics are the cleanest ever, and not a repeat of the 2021 and 2024 Games where certain athletes who tested positive were allowed to compete, win and in some sense have their own extended Games,” he said. “The Expanded Games have nothing to do with our athletes, the World Cup or the Olympic Games, and the President of the Bank knows this.”
A WADA spokesman said holding the Expanded Games on US soil was a “disgrace” for Tygart, adding: “It should come as no surprise that WADA – with the support of clean athletes around the world – has taken a strong and vocal stance against the Expanded Games. It is therefore ironic that Usada refuses to work with the global anti-doping community to unite against them.”
