How USADA Leveraged Public Opinion to Take On WADA

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Introduction

Welcome to the third and final installment in our series on the role of mainstream media in influencing and manipulating the public opinion surrounding doping in sports. Following our breakdown of media influences on public opinion, we explore how the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has exploited international doping scandals, particularly the Russian doping scandal and allegations of Grigory Rodchenkov, in a bold power grab to pursue its own self-interest.

Researchers April Henning and Jesper Andreasson explain how these developments are reshaping the landscape of international sports governance and anti-doping policies, highlighting the tension between global and national interests in a recent paper titled “‘There’s a new sheriff in town’: the Rodchenkov Act, anti-dopism, and the hegemony of WADA in international sport“. The final installment of this series takes a closer look at their findings.

Background and Establishment of WADA

Doping incidents started to shake up the sports world in the 1980s and 1990s. The lack of a unified, global approach to anti-doping efforts let these practices proliferate, necessitating a comprehensive response.

Festina Scandal during the 1998 Tour de France as a Catalyst

The Festina scandal during the 1998 Tour de France was a tipping point. This scandal, involving the discovery of large quantities of performance-enhancing drugs in a team car, brought the issue of doping to public and regulatory attention, highlighting the urgent need for an authoritative body to lead the fight against doping. And with that, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was founded in 1999.

WADA’s Hybrid Organizational Structure

WADA’s hybrid organization combines elements of both governmental and non-governmental structures. It was established through a collective initiative involving the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and various governments, creating a broad-based framework for cooperation.

Independence from Governments

WADA maintains significant independence from individual governments – crucial to ensuring that any single nation’s interests do not unduly influence its decisions and policies. WADA’s structure theoretically allows it to operate with the neutrality and objectivity required to address doping on a global scale.

WADA sets international standards through the World Anti-Doping Code, conducts research, and educates athletes and stakeholders about the consequences of doping in its war on doping.

Role and Functioning of National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs)

National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) are expected to implement WADA’s policies within their respective countries, playing a critical role in the fight against doping by conducting testing, enforcing anti-doping rules, and promoting education and awareness among athletes and the sports organizations they serve. NADOs conduct in-competition and out-of-competition WADA test procedures, manage results, and handle disciplinary actions against athletes who violate anti-doping rules.

The USADA and Its Distinct Approach

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) is a prominent NADO with a proactive and independent approach. Unlike some NADOs that may prioritize compliance with WADA’s regulations, USADA actively engages in investigative work, education, and advocacy. It has earned a reputation for rigorous testing protocols and its commitment to “clean sport”. This independent approach, which often exceeds the rigor of the WADA, advocates for stricter policies, extensive investigations, and collaboration with law enforcement agencies to combat doping.

Anti-Dopism: Conceptual Framework & How it Works

Anti-dopism, as described in Henning’s study, refers to the ideology supporting efforts to combat doping in sports. It is characterized by fear-based propaganda, as in the case of the EPO cycling controversy, emphasizing the health risks and moral integrity compromised by doping practices. Anti-dopism frames doping as a threat to the integrity of sports and the well-being of athletes, advocating for stringent measures to deter and punish doping violations.

At its core, anti-dopism represents a moral crusade against doping, with the concept of the “spirit of sport,” shared by USADA and WADA policies and beyond to other NADOs. This dimension frames doping as a betrayal of trust and a threat to the integrity of competitive sports, as influenced by reports from outlets like the New York Times.

Lack of Clear Legal Definition and Open Interpretation

Despite its moral underpinnings, the ‘spirit of sport’ lacks a clear legal definition, leaving it open to interpretation and manipulation, resulting in some grey areas within anti-doping campaigns. This ambiguity complicates efforts to codify regulations and enforce compliance uniformly across different sports and jurisdictions. The subjective nature of moral judgments also introduces challenges in distinguishing between permissible and prohibited practices, which only gets more complicated when you start to introduce criminal rulings in these cases.

WADA’s Hegemony and USADA’s Resistance

WADA’s hegemony in anti-doping was historically maintained through consent and compliance rather than force, so it came up against issues when presented with the USADA’s resistance. WADA had a degree of institutional power, as participating countries were subject to sanctions, but mostly worked through collaboration. The U.S. Congress and USADA sought to redefine where international rulings came from.

U.S. and USADA Challenging WADA’s Authority

The Rodchenkov Act’s criminalization of doping reframed the act as fraud rather than cheating, significantly challenging WADA’s jurisdiction and authority. Over the years, WADA faced significant criticism for not going far enough in its anti-doping approach. While, for years WADA was able to leverage this lenience to maintain hegemony, the Rodchenkov Act leveraged the criticism to do quite the opposite.

Digging Into the Rodchenkov Act

The Rodchenkov Act was named after Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, who exposed state-sponsored doping in Russia, as we covered in our previous article. The act was enacted in the United States Congress in 2020, representing a significant development in anti-doping legislation that aimed to give the United States (and USADA) the power to fight doping on a broader scale.

The Introduction of Criminal Penalties for Orchestrating Doping Schemes

The Rodchenkov Act changed the landscape of competitive sports by introducing criminal penalties for individuals who orchestrate doping schemes, targeting not just athletes but also coaches, doctors, and other support personnel involved in doping activities.

Extension of U.S. Jurisdiction Beyond National Borders

One of the most unprecedented aspects of the Rodchenkov Act is its extension of U.S. jurisdiction beyond national borders. It allows U.S. authorities to pursue legal action against individuals involved in doping conspiracies at international sporting events where U.S. athletes or sponsors are present. While underscoring the U.S.’s commitment to combating doping globally, it also demonstrates a degree of disregard for international agreements.

WADA’s Criticism of the Act

WADA has expressed criticism of the Rodchenkov Act, citing concerns about its potential to disrupt the collective international efforts led by WADA. The act’s extraterritorial reach, and focus on legal consequences rather than sports ethics, challenge WADA’s traditional approach to anti-doping regulations. Rather than promoting collaboration between WADA and USADA professionals, the act may lead to fragmentation and divergence in anti-doping policies that weaken global initiatives.

U.S. Exploitation of the Russian Doping Scandal

Henning’s study reveals how the United States, particularly through its Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), has capitalized on the Russian doping scandal. The study examined how the U.S. took advantage of the mainstream media’s manipulation of public opinion to drive its own agenda through via the enactment of the Rodchenkov Act.

Dislocation and Relocation

The conceptual framework of dislocation and relocation elucidates the U.S.’s challenge to the authority of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the subsequent redefinition of anti-doping governance through national interests, rather than on a largely global scale.

The ‘Smash and Grab’

The U.S. adopts a ‘smash and grab’ approach, disrupting WADA’s authority and asserting its jurisdiction over anti-doping regulations in a direct, somewhat aggressive manner. In the past, such as the 2016 Copenhagen Declaration, the USADA and other NADOs came together to change the WADA from within. The Rodchenkov Act changed things, redefining doping regulations to align with U.S. interests amid a serious controversy.

Strategic Repositioning Within the Anti-Doping Hierarchy

The U.S.’s actions with the Rodchenkov Act represent a strategic repositioning within the anti-doping hierarchy that could lead to a hegemonic shift in international sports governance. By relocating authority from WADA to the U.S. (and USADA), power dynamics in anti-doping governance have been significantly altered.

The ongoing tension between WADA and USADA, particularly surrounding the Rodchenkov Act, raises questions about WADA’s future effectiveness and leadership in the face of resistance from powerful national bodies like the U.S.

Conclusion

Henning’s study highlights the U.S.’s exploitation of the Russian doping scandal to advance its interests, resulting in a redefinition of anti-doping governance. By leveraging international controversy through the Rodchenkov Act and other strategic maneuvers, the U.S. challenges WADA’s authority and asserts its dominance on international sports governance.

The Ongoing Tension Between WADA and USADA

The tension between WADA and USADA underscores the complex interplay between national interests and international sports governance. Whereas the WADA’s dominance is based on compliance, the USADA’s authoritative approach poses significant challenges to WADA’s future effectiveness and leadership.

Future Outlook for Global Anti-Doping Efforts

Looking ahead, the future of global anti-doping efforts remains uncertain, as long as individual countries like the U.S. act based on North American values and interests. At the end of this three-part series, it’s important to reflect on how much influence the media has in building public perception, which national organizations can leverage to impact a global audience.

Reference

Henning, A., & Andreasson, J. (2022). ’There’s a new sheriff in town’: The Rodchenkov Act, anti-dopism, and the hegemony of WADA in international sport. Sport in Society, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2022.2064100