PARIS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- "We recognize World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as the supreme authority in anti-doping," said International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach here on Friday.
Bach made the remarks at a press conference during the Paris Olympics, addressing the recent controversy involving the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Bach emphasized the IOC's full confidence in WADA, urging all involved parties to engage in dialogue to resolve the dispute and ensure fair treatment of all athletes.
"This is all about the respect for the supreme authority of WADA, and we have been calling on everybody to respect this supreme authority as the IOC does," Bach said.
The controversy stems from allegations by WADA that USADA allowed athletes who violated anti-doping rules to continue competing without sanctions. In exchange for their cooperation in providing information on other doping violations, these athletes were reportedly shielded from public exposure and penalties.
WADA has condemned this practice as a blatant violation of the World Anti-Doping Code, which threatens the integrity of global sporting competition.
Bach reiterated that the IOC has delegated its entire anti-doping responsibilities to the International Testing Agency (ITA) and WADA, underlining that the IOC will not interfere in individual doping cases.
He maintained that WADA, as the supreme authority, is responsible for ensuring compliance with anti-doping rules and safeguarding the fairness of competition.
"We have full confidence in the work of WADA and have asked all the stakeholders involved in this public dispute to sit together and have a dialogue to come to a solution, which ensures a fair competition and the fair treatment of all athletes of the world," the IOC chief said. ■
