Donald Trump’s war with the World Anti-Doping Agency could become the United States’ biggest sporting moment, with WADA reportedly considering banning the US president and government officials from both the 2028 LA Olympics and this year’s World Cup.
The Associated Press first reported the development, citing documents it obtained that show the proposal is on the agenda of WADA’s executive committee next Tuesday.
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At the heart of the dispute is a simple issue: the US government has not paid its annual dues to WADA since 2023 and now owes roughly $7.3 million in unpaid contributions. The proposal would ban representatives of the governments of countries that have not paid their dues from participating in major sporting events, including the Olympics and World Cups.
WADA spokesman James Fitzgerald played down the news, saying there was “nothing new here” and hinting that even if the rule was adopted, it would not be retroactive and therefore would not affect this year’s World Championships. The agency’s foundation board, which would make the final call, is not due to meet until November, although WADA has indicated it could call an emergency meeting if necessary.
LONG-TERM WELD
The fallout between Washington and WADA has been building for years. It began with American frustration with the agency’s handling of Russia’s doping scandal before the 2014 Sochi Games and intensified in 2024, when 23 Chinese swimmers, some of whom competed in the Paris Olympics, were cleared despite testing positive for a banned substance. WADA accepted the Chinese regulator’s explanation that the athletes were accidentally contaminated by traces of drugs found in the hotel kitchen.
Both Trump and the Biden administration refused to pay WADA fees in protest, making it a rare bipartisan issue in Washington. Sara Carter, director of the US Office of National Drug Control Policy, said the country’s position would not change. “Despite WADA’s growing threats, we remain steadfast in our demand for accountability and transparency,” she said.
BUT CAN IT ACTUALLY BE ENFORCED?
Many question whether a ban of this kind could realistically be enforced, especially on American soil. Rahul Gupta, a former WADA executive committee member who helped block a similar proposal in 2024, rejected the idea. “I’ve never heard of a Swiss foundation with a $50 million budget being able to enforce a rule that prevents the president of the United States from going anywhere,” he said. “Are they going to send a red notice from Interpol? It’s ridiculous.”
The IOC, FIFA and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee have declined to comment on how such a ban would be implemented, so the proposal so far looks more symbolic than anything else.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
14 March 2026 15:01 IST
