Senate Committee Advances Bill to Authorise Withholding of WADA Dues

On June 25, 2025, the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee advanced a bill[1] to the Senate, which would provide the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) the authority to withhold membership dues payable to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The move follows growing criticism of WADA’s handling of the Chinese swimmers’ doping case, which came to light through media reports last year. In response, the bill was initially introduced in July 2024 but stalled and was subsequently reintroduced earlier this year. Notably, the Biden administration also withheld the U.S.’s annual dues payment of $3.6 million for the first time.

Under the bill, the ONDCP, in consultation with the appropriate committees of Congress, may withhold up to the full amount of membership dues if it is determined that WADA:

• does not have a governance model that provides for fair representation of the U.S.;
• has not fully implemented governance reforms; or
• does not allow independent athletes from the U.S. and other democratic countries, or representatives of such athletes, to have decision-making roles on the Executive Committee and the Foundation Board, as well as in all relevant expert advisory groups, standing committees, permanent special committees, and working groups of WADA.

In response, WADA issued a statement citing an independent prosecutor’s review that concluded that the Agency showed no bias. The Agency also pointed to the extensive governance reforms it introduced in 2018 and 2022, noting that these did not seek to guarantee representation for the U.S. or any other country. WADA further emphasised that its officials are subject to a Code of Ethics and that athletes are included in its decision-making process.

[1] The bill titled the Restoring Confidence in the World Anti-Doping Agency Act of 2025, as introduced in the Senate, can be accessed here.