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“Perhaps that is the true definition of pragmatism — an ability to deceive oneself and so turn one’s back on principle, law or custom if they stand in the way of what one wants.”

― Julian Rathbone, The Last English King, as well as author of Watching the Detectives.

On November 6, Athletics Illustrated published a response from Travis T. Tygart, the president of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). He was responding to Witold Bańka’s demand for USADA to “do something” about the Enhanced Games.

The Games, which will allow athletes to dope openly, under supervision, are scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2026.

Tygart responded via the Director of Communications, Averi Walker, with the following:

Tygart’s response

“For an organization reportedly part of a criminal investigation by U.S. law enforcement, the continued and blatantly false attacks from WADA President Bańka are a telling smoke screen. His attempts to smear America and our U.S. Olympic and professional athletes is a desperate attempt to divert attention away from his failure in allowing China to sweep 23 positive tests under the carpet. This abject failure potentially robbed the world’s clean athletes of 96 medals, including 18 (14 gold) U.S. swimming medals, from the 2021 and 2024 Olympic Games. Those who value clean and fair sport should stand up and demand that WADA be fixed. We are working closely with our partners FIFA and the ITA to ensure this summer’s World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games are the cleanest on record, and not a repeat of the 2021 and 2024 Games, where certain athletes with positive tests were allowed to compete, win, and, in a way, have their own Enhanced Games. The Enhanced Games have nothing to do with our athletes, the World Cup, or the Olympics, and President Banka knows this.”

Bańka disagrees. An email message was sent to Athletics Illustrated with the following response by James Fitzgerald, Head of Media Relations:

Bańka’s response

“In fact, it is Mr. Tygart who wants to divert attention. He is attempting to relitigate a 2021 no-fault case of contamination in China while ignoring the many failures of the anti-doping program in the United States, particularly in the college sports system, which he himself has described as a “total joke… the rules are so bad, they do not protect the athletes in the way they ought to be protected”*.

“The uncomfortable truth for Mr. Tygart is that 90% of athletes in the U.S. do not participate under the protection of the World Anti-Doping Code, and he seems unable or unwilling to do anything about that. The Enhanced Games is another embarrassment for him because it has found a home in the U.S.

“He seems unhappy that WADA has asked him to help the situation by lobbying the U.S. authorities in order to find legal ways to stop this dangerous and irresponsible event from taking place. It should surprise no one that WADA – with the support of clean athletes all over the world – has taken a strong and vocal position against the Enhanced Games. It seems incongruous, therefore, that USADA refuses to work with the global anti-doping community to unite against it. The athletes and sports fans of that great sporting nation deserve better.”

The 2023 interview where Tygart talks about the college system…

Decisions made in neutrality

While USADA presides over domestic doping cases, athletes may appeal a suspension to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). For example, the case of American sprinter Erriyon Knighton, who tested positive for the anabolic steroid trenbolone.

USADA accepted his defence that the positive test was a result of contaminated meat. However, it was the WADA-created (but independent) Athletics Integrity Unit that had provisionally suspended Knighton.

WADA appealed to the CAS. The CAS ruled against the athlete; according to the CAS, Knighton did not sufficiently prove that he had consumed contaminated meat, which led to his positive test, resulting in the four-year ban, with prejudice.

Correction: The case was decided by an independent arbitrator – not USADA. In fact, USADA argued to the independent arbitrator that it was not a contamination case and, Knighton should receive a four-year sanction. The independent arbitrator did not accept USADA’s arguments, which were the same arguments as the International Federation’s and WADA’s.

“As required under the rules, the details of the case were then made public. And as also allowed under the rules, WADA and the International Federation were able to appeal the case. This is how the system is designed to work, and USADA will continue to uphold the rules while also advocating that everyone around the world do the same,” shared Walker.

Trenbolone, used by athletes to enhance muscle mass and strength, is classified as an anabolic steroid on the WADA Prohibited List and is banned in and out of competition. It is also used in the US meat industry to promote muscle growth and mass in cattle.

Likewise, there is the case of the 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for trace amounts of the steroid meandienone. The team’s defence was the same as Knighton’s; they all ate contaminated meat.

WADA accepted the explanation. USADA subsequently called out the global anti-doping agency on the decision.

The question for athletes, coaches, agents, and national sporting organizations is: Can the two agencies currently deliberate over an athlete’s fate in neutrality?

Twenty-three swimmers implicated

WADA and USADA have been battling each other since reports that 23 Chinese swimmers, 11 of whom competed at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, have been cleared using a contaminated meat defence.

In a separate incident, Tang Muhan and He Junyi both tested positive after eating French fries and hamburgers at a Beijing restaurant in October 2022. They claimed the positive test came from the burger meat.

The Chinese Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) ruled that the steroid came from contaminated meat from the burgers, and cleared the two athletes.

WADA confirmed that the two swimmers had tested positive for “trace amounts” of metandienone in October 2022, but said it was part of a broader number of positive tests in China involving meat contamination. USADA is questioning the pass given to the athletes who tested positive.

“It’s important to note that WADA was cleared of bias around the Chinese positive tests by an investigator it hired with no anti-doping experience who answered questions WADA drafted. WADA also controlled the scope of the investigation,” added Walker.

The battle continues as WADA demands USADA do something about the Enhanced Games; a tit for tat war of words seems to be emerging.

Specifically, what USADA is being asked to do is in question.

The barbs, back and forth, will not end here, as the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency, named CHINADA, gave a terse response to USADA over WADA’s decision on the fate of the 23 Chinese swimmers.

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