Title: Olympic Officials Cracking Down on U.S. Probes of China Doping, Threaten to Pull Out of Salt Lake Games
Subtitle: IOC’s Attempt to Suppress Allegations Sparks Outrage, Further Tarnishes Beijing 2022’s Already-Tarnished Reputation
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has taken extraordinary measures to suppress an investigation by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) into alleged Chinese doping, threatening to withdraw the 2002 Winter Olympics host city of Salt Lake City as punishment if the investigation continues.
The controversy centers on allegations of widespread doping by Chinese athletes, including at the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022. According to sources familiar with the investigation, USADA has been looking into suspicious testing results from Chinese athletes competing in international events over the past decade, including the Sochi and Pyeongchang Games.
However, IOC officials, led by President Thomas Bach, have been applying intense pressure on the USADA to drop the investigation, allegedly claiming that it would damage the Olympic brand and undermine the credibility of the anti-doping system.
The IOC has been accused of attempting to suppress the truth and shield China from accountability for its suspected doping program. Critics argue that the Olympic body’s actions are motivated by a desire to maintain its close ties with the Chinese government, which is known for its authoritarian rule and lack of respect for human rights.
"This is an unprecedented attempt by the IOC to stifle an investigation and silence allegations of widespread doping by a host country," said Richard McLaren, the Canadian lawyer who led the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Independent Commission inquiry into Russian doping. "The IOC’s actions are a betrayal of its own values and a disservice to the athletes who are competing fairly and clean."
The USADA has been conducting its investigation under the banner of the Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s (USOPC) anti-doping program. However, IOC officials have reportedly told the USADA that it cannot continue the investigation, threatening to withhold USOPC funding and withdraw its support for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
"Salt Lake City has a long and storied history of hosting world-class winter sports events, and it’s shameful that the IOC would threaten to withdraw support for this city just to silence an investigation into Chinese doping," said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. "We urge the IOC to prioritize the integrity of the games and the athletes over its own self-interest."
The IOC’s heavy-handed approach has sparked widespread outrage and further eroded the reputation of the Beijing 2022 Olympics, which has already been plagued by logistical issues, financial concerns, and controversy surrounding the construction of new venues.
"We are at a critical crossroads for the integrity of the Olympic Movement," said Emma Terho, a Finnish member of the International Anti-Doping Agency’s (IAAF) Ethics Board. "The IOC must put the welfare of athletes and the integrity of the games ahead of its own interests. Otherwise, the Olympic Movement will be forever tainted by the stench of corruption and oppression."
As the IOC’s bid to silence the investigation gains traction, athletes, politicians, and anti-doping advocates are standing in solidarity with the USADA and demanding that the truth about Chinese doping be exposed. The outcome of this dramatic showdown will have far-reaching consequences for the Olympic Movement, its values, and its credibility.
https://www.npr.org/2024/07/24/nx-s1-5050528/olympic-threaten-salt-lake-2034-winter-games-doping