Doping Agency Considers Excluding Trump from LA Olympics Over Unpaid Fees
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is weighing a significant policy shift that could prevent President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials from attending the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This potential ban stems from the U.S. government's ongoing refusal to pay its annual dues to WADA, a situation that may also affect the upcoming World Cup hosted in the U.S.
Next Tuesday, WADA's executive committee will discuss this proposal, which has emerged from years of tension between the agency and the U.S. government over various issues, including the handling of doping cases involving Chinese athletes.
Documents obtained by sources reveal that this agenda item has been confirmed by multiple insiders familiar with the discussions, although they were not authorized to speak publicly. WADA spokesperson James Fitzgerald remarked, “there is nothing new here,” emphasizing that talks about government funding have been ongoing since 2020 and are not solely directed at the U.S.
Initially proposed in 2024, the idea was rejected after lobbying from U.S. authorities. Since then, the U.S. has lost its seat on WADA's executive committee. Sara Carter, director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), stated, “In spite of WADA’s increasing threats, we continue to stand firm in our demand for accountability and transparency from WADA to ensure fair competition in sport.”
If enacted, the rule would likely be symbolic, as enforcing attendance restrictions on a sitting president at an event in their own country poses significant challenges. Rahul Gupta, former ONDCP director and a past member of WADA's executive committee, questioned the feasibility of such enforcement, stating, “I have never heard of a $50-million-budget Swiss foundation being able to enforce a rule to prevent the United States president from going anywhere.”
Following the initial report, WADA issued a statement claiming the coverage was “entirely misleading.” Fitzgerald clarified that any new rules would not apply retroactively, thus not affecting events like the FIFA World Cup or the LA Games.
The next Foundation Board meeting is set for November, but WADA indicated that the proposal could be expedited if necessary. A draft of the proposal outlines sanctions for governments failing to pay dues by January 31 of the following year. The U.S. has not paid its dues since 2023, totaling approximately $7.3 million.
The proposed sanctions include exclusion from major events for non-compliant countries, which would impact Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and members of Congress who recently allocated substantial funding for security and logistics for both the World Cup and LA Games.
Neither the International Olympic Committee nor FIFA responded to inquiries regarding how such a ban might be enforced against U.S. officials.
WADA's budget for 2025 is projected at $57.5 million, with funding split between the IOC and global governments. The U.S. has historically contributed one of the largest shares.
This ongoing dispute traces back to the Trump administration and reflects broader American skepticism towards the global anti-doping framework, particularly following controversies surrounding Russian doping scandals and recent issues with Chinese swimmers.
Both the Trump and Biden administrations have withheld payments to WADA, with recent tensions arising over demands for an independent audit of WADA’s practices. As WADA seeks to strengthen its financial position, Fitzgerald noted, “This initiative is aimed at better protecting WADA’s funding so that it can deliver on its mission to protect clean sport.”
“If WADA’s funding is cut, it is ultimately athletes who will suffer,” he added, highlighting that athletes on WADA’s Executive Committee have voiced support for this initiative.
