September 13, 2017; Los Angeles, California, USA; An overall view of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Olympic torch illuminated in the colors of the LA2028 logo to commemorate the hosting of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other U.S. government officials may be barred from participating in the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles if the World Anti-Doping Agency (WHO) enacts new rules, the Associated Press reported Friday.
The potential decree could also affect the FIFA World Cup, which will be held primarily in the United States this summer.
WADA has long been at loggerheads with the U.S. government, which has not paid annual dues to the agency for years amid disputes over the organization’s effectiveness in maintaining drug-free athletics.
This problem first arose during the administration of then-U.S. President Joe Biden and continues under the Trump administration, with Democratic and Republican government officials taking a stance against WADA.
WADA’s agenda for next Tuesday’s meeting calls for action to be taken against governments that are not up to date on their dues payments, including banning public officials, such as government representatives, from sporting events, according to the AP. It is known that this measure is not only aimed at the United States.
According to the report, the United States has racked up more than $7 million in debt in the past two years alone.
“Despite the growing threats from WADA, we continue to firmly demand accountability and transparency from WADA to ensure fair competition in sports,” Sarah Carter, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), said, according to the Associated Press.
In one high-profile case that caught the attention of U.S. officials, Chinese swimmers failed drug tests ahead of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics but were still allowed to compete.
Due to protests from the United States and non-payment of WADA dues, the country was excluded from WADA’s Executive Committee.
The report noted that banning government officials from attending events was largely “symbolic.”
“I’ve never heard of a Swiss foundation with a $50 million budget being able to enforce rules to prevent, for example, the president of the United States from going anywhere,” Rahul Gupta, a former WADA executive member and former ONDCP chairman, told The Associated Press. “How are they going to enforce it? Are they going to put up a red notice from Interpol? This is ridiculous. It’s clear they haven’t thought it through.”
–Field level media
