中文
By Anthony Moretti
The Western-created narrative that anything China does well involves underhanded tactics continues. As one example, we are well aware of the many accusations made by the West that high-end products emanating from China are threats to national security; this is a convenient claim that requires no real evidence because audiences are preconditioned to accept such messages. Whether the topic is electric vehicles or popular apps, the story is the same: China is a danger.
Is the latest "threat" coming from China? Swimmers who are succeeding because of drugs.
You read that correctly.
We will return to that story below, but first, it is important to note that China has made it quite clear that it fully supports all efforts made by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to identify and punish any athlete, no matter the country he or she calls home, who uses illegal substances to increase the chances of success at the Olympics or any other international competition.
In a statement released on July 26 ahead of the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics, the China Anti-Doping Agency stated it "looks forward to working with all stakeholders to support WADA in implementing independent, fair, harmonized and effective governance worldwide." It added: "It is our sincere hope that through sport we can build a bridge of trust and work together with all stakeholders for the stability, collaboration, harmonized development and improvement of the global anti-doping governance system."
Why was such a statement required? Because the United States is leading an effort to undermine any successes Chinese swimmers (and by extension any Chinese athlete) will enjoy at the Olympics. The head of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency has led the charge, suggesting that WADA failed to follow procedures when it cleared 23 Chinese swimmers after positive tests for a banned substance prior to the Tokyo Olympics. Roughly a dozen of those swimmers are competing in the 2024 Olympics.
Travis Tygart, CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, sharply attacked WADA for "egregious failures" in examining the Chinese claims, arguing that "clean athletes [have been left] in the dark." The facts would suggest he is allowing his bias to get in the way.
The Chinese delegation informed WADA that the results stemmed from contamination at the team's hotel. WADA conducted a complete investigation and found no reason to question the Chinese claims. WADA recently confirmed that it "reviewed the Chinese swimmer case file diligently, consulted with scientific and legal experts, and ultimately determined that it was in no position to challenge the contamination scenario." It also refused to accept any suggestions that it gave China special treatment.
The agency then left no doubt it was fed up by the U.S. accusations, noting "We stand by that good-faith determination in the face of the incomplete and misleading news reports." Many of those "incomplete and misleading news reports" are launched from the United States.
The Olympic House, the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee, Lausanne, Switzerland. [Photo/Xinhua]
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is not happy either. A few days ago, it named Salt Lake City as the host of the 2034 Winter Olympics but attached an unusual stipulation: If the U.S. continues to question the legitimacy of WADA's structures and procedures, then the IOC could remove the Games from Utah City.
For now, Salt Lake City Olympic officials are indicating their full support for everything WADA does.
Of course, the U.S. and Utah governments see it differently. The chair and ranking member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Congressman Frank Pallone blasted the IOC for "a one-sided contract condition" that protects WADA instead of athletes. But is the U.S. really interested in protecting athletes? Or does it instead want to use sport as it seeks to further dent China's international image?
Keep in mind that in 2020, Congress passed and then President Donald Trump signed into law the Rodchenkov Act. The Associated Press noted the law allows "U.S. prosecutors to go after doping schemes at international events in which Americans are involved as athletes, sponsors or broadcasters." Fines of up to $1 million and prison sentences of as many as 10 years could be levied against people or groups that engage in efforts that allow for cheating.
The U.S. is using that act to review how the 2021 doping cases were handled. One WADA official said the U.S. runs a real risk of isolating "itself from the global sporting community and [which would] carry significant consequences for American sport."
Cutting through the war of words, it is clear that the U.S. government and anti-doping officials believe they have an unstated right to solely determine if and when doping cases are handled properly. One can see how such a "right" could be ignored if a friend is under the spotlight but employed when a foe is. That is blatant politics.
Yes, as you and I watch these and all future Olympic Games, we want to see fantastic competitions that are not tainted by cheating. WADA ensures that, and there is no reason for anyone to doubt the integrity of that agency.
Let the Games...not the politics...begin!
Anthony Moretti, a special commentator on current affairs for CGTN, is an associate professor at the Department of Communication and Organizational Leadership at Robert Morris University.
