Chinese donations in lead-up to cleared doping tests reflects growing influence on WADA

In the two years before the World Anti-Doping Agency signed off on clearing 23 Chinese swimmers of intentionally taking performance enhancers, that country's government contributed nearly $2 million US above its yearly requirements to WADA programs, including one designed to strengthen the agency's investigations and intelligence unit.

The Chinese contributions were part of a pattern that illustrates the country's growing influence on the drug-fighting agency at about the same time WADA's relationship with its biggest contributor, the United States, was fraying.

There is no indication from the documents AP reviewed that China donated the money in expectation of a quid pro quo to gloss over positive drug tests. In fact, WADA didn't hide the extra funding; it put out a little-noticed news release in December 2020 announcing China's $992,000 donation.

"All this was done in total transparency," WADA director general Olivier Niggli said Monday during a news conference to discuss the case. "And frankly, the [question] has absolutely nothing to do with what we are discussing today. So, the optics is a question [I appreciate], but I have absolutely no problem with the relationship we have with China."

The main part of WADA's budget each year comes from a 50-50 split between governments of the world and the Olympic movement. China's additional contributions came on top of $430,000 its government supplied WADA as part of the routine payments in 2019.

The U.S. gave the largest regular contribution that year — $2.51 million, but that came as its relationship with WADA was growing tense.

By 2021, the U.S. was sparring with WADA over passage of a new law written to combat doping in response to the long-running drug scandal in Russia.