The USADA is allowing athletes to be released in exchange for information gathering assistance. The fact that this has come to light cannot be seen in isolation from geopolitical tensions between the United States and China and changing global relations.
On Thursday, August 1, Chinese swimmer Pan Zanli won the men's 100m freestyle final in 46.40 seconds, a new world record. It was met with applause, but also boos, the boos having to do with suggestions of doping. We previously published an article on this topic.
America vs China
During the Covid crisis, a number of Chinese athletes, including Zhanli, tested positive. Since the positive tests could also be the result of food contamination, they were cleared.
The United States has strongly criticized WADA for this decision. Although no athlete has been subjected to more doping controls during these Olympics than Chinese swimmers, doubts have persisted.
However, it seems that the US has overestimated its strength somewhat. Now serious charges are being brought against American athletes in China. It now appears that at least three athletes who were caught doping in the US have been exonerated and allowed to continue setting records.
This was done under the guise of species. UndercoverThe process, in which these athletes worked with the United States Anti-Doping Agency to gather information after their positive tests. WADA, which was unaware of these facts, stated that this system was clearly in violation of the rules and threatened the integrity of the sport.
Sports and Geopolitics
Tensions between China and the United States in sports run alongside growing geopolitical tensions between the two superpowers and also show striking similarities.
For many years the United States had what was called Rules based system It imposed on the world, setting rules that everyone must abide by, but it itself broke them more than once. Officially the rules apply to everyone, but in practice they apply mainly to others.
With the economic rise of China, and in its wake the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), global relations have become tilted, meaning that the countries of the South can no longer accept the order imposed by the United States.
After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, people were emboldened to ask aloud why they were complicit in sanctions against Russia, while the United States was let off the hook after its equally illegal invasion of Iraq, among other places. The same thing is happening in sports now.
“The United States should not play the role of doping sheriff, because it is the country where the most doping is used.”
“The US is very lax in monitoring its professional athletes,” explains Hans Vandeweghe, a sports journalist for De Morgen. “They have little or no control at the college level, even though 70% of their athletes come from there.”
Vandeweghe also says the criticism doesn’t just come from China. “It’s criticism from the whole world that says, ‘The United States shouldn’t be the doping sheriff because it’s the country that uses the most doping and has the least control.’ And the world is right about that.”
