Members of Congress send scathing letter to WADA over probe to find leaker in Chinese swimmer case
A bipartisan group in Congress has sent a letter to the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency criticizing that group for opening an investigation into who leaked information that led to the agency clearing 23 Chinese swimmers
A bipartisan group in Congress sent a letter Thursday to the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency criticizing that group for opening an investigation into who leaked information that led to the agency clearing 23 Chinese swimmers after they tested positive for performance enhancers before the Olympics in 2021.
“While WADA claims that their motivations are innocent, it appears this investigation’s intent is to intimidate and suppress whistleblowers,” said the letter sent to WADA president Witold Banka, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press. “If these allegations are accurate, WADA is not defending clean sport but is continuing to defend a cover-up.”
WADA confirmed earlier this year it had launched “Operation Puncture” to learn about the leak and what motivated it, but denied it was looking for the person who blew the whistle.
The letter, from Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Chris Van Hollen and Reps. John Moolenaar and Raja Krishnamoorthi, is the latest in a yearslong string of hostility between WADA and the U.S. government, which has cut off its annual payments to the drug-fighting organization, demanding more transparency.
WADA did not immediately respond to a request from the AP for comment.
Recommended for you
The letter comes at a critical juncture for international sports in the U.S., with the World Cup coming next year and the Summer Olympics taking place in Los Angeles in 2028.
In 2024, U.S. authorities opened an investigation into the Chinese swimmers case, which has led to speculation that WADA officials are reluctant to come to the United States, worried they will be subject to subpoenas.
The letter asks Banka to answer a series of questions, including whether WADA will release all internal communications related to the swimmers' case and the ensuing “Operation Puncture.”
WADA commissioned its own report on the handling of the Chinese swimmers case that concluded it was “reasonable” that WADA chose not to appeal the Chinese anti-doping agency’s explanation that the positives came from contamination.
That report has been widely questioned by critics who would like to see more documentation and information about the case.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO
personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who
make comments. Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. Don't threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Anyone violating these rules will be issued a
warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be
revoked.
Please purchase a Premium Subscription to continue reading.
To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account.
We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription.
A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means you’re helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much!
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.