The World Anti-Doping Agency is considering a rule change that could attempt to bar President Donald Trump and other top U.S. officials from attending the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics over a long-running dispute involving unpaid American dues.
The Associated Press reported Friday that the proposal is on the agenda for next week’s executive committee meeting and stems from years of tension after the U.S. government withheld funding in protest of the agency’s handling of a string of high-profile doping cases, including one involving Chinese swimmers.
“The Associated Press learned of the agenda item through correspondence it obtained between WADA and European officials involved in the agency’s decision-making,” according to the news agency’s report. “Two others with knowledge of the agenda confirmed the existence of the rules proposal to AP; they were not authorized to speak publicly about the agenda, which has not been released publicly.”
But WADA spokesperson James Fitzgerald said “there is nothing new here,” noting similar discussions about governments withholding funding have been underway since 2020, AP said.
If adopted, the rule could also have implications for other international events hosted by the U.S., such as this summer’s World Cup. A draft proposal would apply restrictions to officials from governments that fail to pay dues by a set deadline.
“The rule, if passed, would figure to be mostly symbolic, given the limits an international sports federation could have on the president of a country attending an event inside his own borders,” according to AP.
Sarah Carter, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said the MAGA administration will continue “to stand firm in our demand for accountability and transparency from WADA to ensure fair competition in sport.”
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