ASOIF Statement on US federal investigation into Chinese swimmers’ case

The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) is greatly concerned that the leadership of one of its member International Federations (IFs) has been ordered to testify as a witness in a United States (US) federal investigation.

This federal investigation and the related issuance of a subpoena to World Aquatics’ Executive Director regarding the anti-doping case involving Chinese swimmers threaten to undermine the fundamental principles of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the World Anti-Doping Code that applies universally.

WADA is established and recognised by the public authorities and the sports movement as the supreme authority in the fight against doping. It co-ordinates anti-doping rules and policies across all sports and countries to ensure integrity and consistency.

The US criminal investigation into an anti-doping case on foreign soil, and the recent position of the US Anti-Doping Agency, threaten to undermine the role and independence of WADA, and by extension, trust and confidence in the global anti-doping system and the autonomy of sporting rules and regulations.

Independent prosecutor Eric Cottier’s interim report stated that WADA’s actions showed no bias towards China and that WADA’s decision not to appeal the contamination scenario presented by the China Anti-Doping Agency was “indisputably reasonable”.

The US is one of the largest sport markets in the world, with many major international sporting competitions, including the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympic Games, planned for the coming years.

The US’ extraterritorial investigation raises doubts about the personal safety of athletes, sport officials and representatives of international sport organisations and the confidence with which they may travel to the US for international sporting competitions and commitments. The investigation may lead IFs to consider the risks of allocating future international events to the US.

On behalf of its member IFs, ASOIF seeks urgent clarification from the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the Los Angeles 2028 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games regarding the position of WADA as an institution and respect for the fundamental principles of the World Anti-Doping Code.