MOSCOW, July 24, Andrey Simonenko. President of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), International Olympic Committee (IOC) member John Coates said the IOC should have the right to terminate the Olympics contract if the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) precedence is not fully recognised.
In early July, the United States began a federal investigation into the case of positive doping tests of Chinese swimmers in accordance with the Rodchenkov Act. The Rodchenkov Act, a law signed by previous US President Donald Trump and criticized around the world, allows US courts to impose criminal sentences for doping at tournaments in which American athletes participate. It is named after WADA informant and former director of the Moscow anti-doping laboratory Grigory Rodchenkov. The maximum penalty under the Rodchenkov Law is 10 years in prison. Honorary IOC member Richard Pound did not rule out that WADA could find the American Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) non-compliant with the code due to the investigation into Chinese swimmers and deprive the United States of its right to host the Olympic Games.
“Given the problem that has arisen in the history with WADA, USADA, the American authorities and the Rodchenkov Act, I believe that all bodies are obliged to fully recognize the absolute priority of WADA in the fight against doping. The IOC has strengthened the terminology in the Olympic host contract to ensure the integrity of the fight against doping «The IOC should be given the right to terminate the contract to host the Olympics if WADA's anti-doping priority is not fully respected or if the implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code is not fully respected. The Salt Lake City Organizing Committee has agreed to and signed these amendments.» — Coates said at the IOC session.
The President of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Gene Sykes announced that the organization has accepted amendments to the contract with the IOC.
«On behalf of the Los Angeles 2028 and Salt Lake City 2034 organizing committees, we recognize the priority of WADA, it is key to the protection of clean athletes. The recommendations of the independent prosecutor were mentioned here, they give us the opportunity to start a dialogue, to resolve this problem, of course, we accept obligations, including those included in the amendments to the contract,” Sykes emphasized.
The 2028 Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City has been chosen as the capital of the 2034 Winter Olympics.