'Retaliation': China doping case could see US lose Olympic hosting rights

The case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned substance in 2021 could jeopardise the United States hosting the 2028 and 2034 Olympics.

The World Anti-Doping Agency says the United States Anti-Doping Agency will face a compliance review, over the dispute sparked the case involving the Chinese swimmers.

USADA and American swimmers have been outspoken in their opposition to the treatment afforded to the swimmers from China, with USADA's chief Travis Tygart suggesting a cover up.

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WADA labelled the claims "defamatory" and will take USADA to the Independent Compliance Review Committee next month.

The United States is set to host the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Los Angeles, while it was announced on Wednesday that Salt Lake City would host the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in 2034.

But any country wanting to compete or stage an international sporting event must be compliant with the WADA code.

The International Olympic Committee said it had changed the hosting contract, which would give them the power to eliminate the Salt Lake Games if US authorities did not respect the "supreme authority" of WADA.

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John Coates, chairman of the IOC's legal commission said the governing body could "terminate Olympic host city contracts in cases where the supreme authority of the World Anti-Doping Agency in the fight against doping is not fully respected or if the application of the world anti-doping code is hindered or undermined."

If the Independent Compliance Review Court's (CRC) ruling goes against the US, the political superpower would have to give up participating in and hosting the Olympics.

Tygart described the move as "retaliation" by WADA in response to USADA asking questions about the case involving the Chinese swimmers.

"WADA is continuing the retaliation on those asking for answers from them for allowing China to sweep 23 positive cases under the rug.

"They're running scared instead of being transparent and I guess we will see how independent the CRC is or is not.

"The whole system is crumbling under this WADA leadership and clean athletes deserve better."