World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) President Witold Banka speaks at WADA's Annual Symposium on March 18, 2025. Photo: Courtesy of WADA

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) President Witold Banka on Tuesday denounced the politically motivated attacks from the US over WADA's handling of Chinese swimmers' contamination case, emphasizing that WADA acted with integrity and fairness throughout the investigation.

Addressing nearly 1,000 delegates from sports federations, governments and anti-doping organizations at the 2025 WADA Annual Symposium in Lausanne, Switzerland on Tuesday, Banka highlighted the intense scrutiny WADA faced over its handling of the Chinese swimmers' contamination cases, according to his opening speech.

He pointed to the findings of an independent investigation led by Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier, which concluded that WADA's actions were appropriate and unbiased.  

Despite the evidence, Banka noted that a "very small number of individuals, particularly in the US," continued to promote unfounded allegations of a cover-up, undermining the integrity of WADA and its 180 dedicated staff members.  

Banka did not mince words when addressing the political motivations behind these attacks. He accused certain US political figures of using the Chinese swimmers' cases to further their own agendas, disregarding the evidence and diverting attention from their own domestic issues.  

"These individuals have doubled down on their claims of a cover-up at the highest levels of WADA, World Aquatics, the IOC (International Olympic Committee), and Chinese authorities," Banka said. "They continue to promote conspiracy theories without a shred of evidence because there is no evidence." 

Andrew Maggio，manager of Media Relations and Communications of WADA,mk told the Global Times on Thursday that the politicization of sport is a detriment to everything that WADA and the anti-doping community has worked for.

"The current Code is working well, and the next version will go further in harmonizing the global anti-doping program. WADA stands by its transparency and commitment to integrity. Our focus must remain on athletes and ensuring a level playing field. We will continue to apply the rules fairly, regardless of the sport, country or individuals involved," said Maggio.

The US Anti-Doping Agency, which is feuding with WADA and accusing it of  covering up the Chinese swimmers' cases, said in January that the White House has withheld its 2024 dues to WADA. The withholding of the payment automatically disqualifies the US representatives on WADA's executive board, according to WADA regulations.

Banka warned that these politically driven attacks do not just harm WADA, but also undermine the entire global anti-doping system, ultimately putting clean athletes at risk.  

"I was always told that if you want to change the world, start at home. But instead of cleaning their own backyard, they are trying to shift attention elsewhere, and that is why they are attacking WADA," he said. 

"But the real damage caused by these attacks is on the global anti-doping system itself, not just WADA. They harm the entire clean sport community and, ultimately, they harm the athletes."  

Zhang Bin, a Beijing-based sports commentator, told the Global Times on Wednesday that weaponizing sports issues for political purposes undermines global sports governance credibility.

"Such unilateral actions erode the foundation of global anti-doping cooperation," Zhang told the Global Times. "Sport should bond people, not separate them. However, some people don't think this way." 

Banka also condemned the proposed "Enhanced Games," a controversial event that encourages athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs without restrictions. 

Describing the concept as "dangerous and irresponsible," Banka called on all national anti-doping organizations and clean sport advocates to oppose the event and protect the health and integrity of athletes.  

"The values and beauty of sport are based on the ideal of clean and fair competition," Banka said. "We must protect that. Athletes serve as role models, and this proposed event would send the wrong signal to young people around the world."