From Jiang Tao
If you examine closely how the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) handles issues in anti-doping practices, it becomes clear what the organization’s primary function is. That is achieving its hegemony in the global sports world.
Let’s first review the recent controversy surrounding this US organization.
According to the USADA, American sprinter Erriyon Knighton tested positive for the performance enhancer trenbolone during an out-of-competition test on March 26. An arbitration panel determined that the substance came from contaminated meat and thus decided not to impose a ban on him.
All the investigation results in Knighton’s case came solely from the USADA, and their authenticity has yet to be validated by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
While this outcome might still seem standard for an individual case, it takes on a different light when compared with how the USADA treated Chinese athletes last year.
The US pressured the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to investigate 23 Chinese athletes who were later declared clean of any doping-related issues. This investigation, which lasted over a year, led to the formation of an independent review committee. Despite the committee’s finding of no wrongdoing, the U.S. continued to highlight these cases, negatively impacting the global perception of Chinese athletes.
The U.S.’s approach to anti-doping has often reflected a hegemonic attitude: “I can scrutinize you, but you cannot scrutinize me.” The inconsistencies in its domestic anti-doping procedures and testing standards, coupled with opaque handling of doping cases involving American athletes, have created a significant sports black box.
Even the WADA has issued a statement questioning the integrity of the USADA, saying “The USADA scheme threatened the integrity of sporting competitions, which the Code seeks to protect.” WADA also said it found at least three cases where athletes who had committed serious anti-doping rule violations were allowed to compete for years, while they act as undercover agents for USADA.
This behavior mirrors a broader pattern in U.S. global relations: creating its own rules and bending regulations to serve its own interests.
In May, the U.S. Congressional China Issues Special Committee urged the Department of Justice and FBI to investigate doping among Chinese athletes and pressured WADA for a thorough probe.
As a result, at the Paris Olympics, the Chinese swimming team underwent an unprecedented 200 doping tests in just 10 days, driven by these demands. Additionally, the U.S. used funding threats to coerce WADA into compliance.
When you look at the numbers, the disparity becomes evident. China conducts the highest number of inspections globally yet reports the fewest positive results. WADA President Ban Ka noted that the U.S. has the smallest proportion of athletes subjected to doping tests, with 90% of American athletes—across both professional and collegiate levels—not complying with WADA regulations.
Despite this, when Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle won the gold medal in the 100m freestyle, he faced unfounded doping suspicions.
Pan Zhanle stated, “I underwent 29 drug tests last year and 21 from May to July this year, with no positive results. The tests were conducted randomly within the established guidelines, so there’s nothing unusual about it.”
The outdated belief in the inherent superiority of white athletes, particularly in sports like swimming and track and field, is increasingly challenged by competitive athletes from Asia. Perhaps it is time for the West to reconsider and move beyond these outdated notions of racial superiority. And it’s time for the U.S. to stop imposing hegemony in the field of sports.
The fallout of the alleged doping issue by the United States is still spreading on the sidelines, and its baseless smear is attracting increasing criticism from the international community. Competitive sports teach people not only competition, but also respect for rules and opponents. –The Daily Mail-CGTN news exchange item
