An independent investigation has concluded that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) did not mishandle or show favoritism towards the 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for banned substances but were still allowed to participate in the Tokyo Olympics.
The report, conducted by Swiss prosecutor and lead investigator Eric Cottier, found no evidence to suggest that WADA favored the swimmers who tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ), a medication that enhances blood flow to the heart.
The Chinese investigation that cleared the swimmers determined that they were inadvertently exposed to TMZ through contamination while staying at a hotel where traces of the drug were found in the kitchen. WADA stated that it lacked evidence to challenge China's findings and that external counsel advised against appealing the decision.
Cottier's investigation arrived at a similar conclusion, finding no irregularities in WADA's review of the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) decision. The report also found that WADA had covered all relevant issues in determining whether or not to appeal the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
"All the elements taken into consideration by WADA, whether they come from the file produced by CHINADA with its decision or from the investigation procedures that it carried out, show the decision not to appeal to be reasonable, both from the point of view of the facts and the applicable rules," wrote Cottier in his report.
WADA has strongly supported its management of the Chinese situation and embraced the report that validates its procedures.
In the upcoming weeks, a more comprehensive report is anticipated, which may contain recommendations. However, WADA president Witold Banka stressed that "it will not change any of the findings in the initial summary."
"... the independent prosecutor has concluded WADA showed no bias towards China and the decision not to appeal the Chinese swimming cases was undisputedly reasonable based on the evidence," Banka told Reuters. "His conclusion is very crystal clear.
"We were disgustingly accused of wrongdoing by a few individuals that there was a cover-up and that is why we found it very important to engage the independent prosecutor."
The report faced harsh criticism from anti-doping organizations FairSport and Global Athlete. They denounced the process, stating that it was "inherently flawed from the outset due to its limited scope and independence."
"The report, as expected, does not provide sufficient evidence to support Cottier's findings and conclusions – it also does not explain why 23 Chinese athletes were not provisionally suspended with mandatory public disclosure," the groups said in a joint statement.
"Until all related documents are made public, trust in the system will not be regained and WADA’s position as the global regulator will continue to be challenged," they said.
Cottier's conclusions failed to sway the WADA's most vocal detractor, Travis Tygart, the head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency. Tygart intensified his criticism, casting doubt on the global agency's ability to "sanitise" the report before its publication.
The USADA statement inquired about the circumstances surrounding the TMZ's entry into the kitchen.
"This (report) is unsurprising since WADA itself handpicked the investigator and set the extremely limited scope of the investigation, preventing a meaningful review," said USADA.
"Given its cosy role in the creation of the investigation, the world also has to wonder if WADA was able to see and even sanitise the report before its release."
In a recent video address to US athletes, Travis Tygart, the CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), stated that if the Cottier report fails to provide satisfactory answers, a US-supported investigation will be initiated.
Earlier in May, a committee from the US House of Representatives requested the Department of Justice to initiate investigations into Chinese doping cases, with the Paris Olympics scheduled for this year.
Last week, the WADA acknowledged its awareness of the ongoing investigation by the US law enforcement. However, WADA emphasized that the report clearly demonstrates its innocence and accused USADA of engaging in unproductive tactics.
"From the very beginning what I said is, this is the clear political game from the few individuals from the U.S. to destabilise the system and maybe to take control," said Banka.
"We have to be based on the rules of law and not conspiracy theories. We have nothing to hide and did a good job.
"Why one country wants to take control of the anti-doping system is completely unfair and is against the harmonisation of the system and very dangerous for the sporting world."
