Ru Cui
The Olympics are widely considered the world’s most prestigious sporting event because the participants and spectators alike crave and anticipate fierce competition between more or less evenly-matched contestants. While some fans may wish to see their teams triumph decisively, such one-sided outcomes are generally not well-received by others involved in sports. Addressing the issue of doping by certain teams or individuals seeking to undermine the integrity of competition is crucial, and punishments must be implemented to uphold fairness.
When we talk to the Pakistani Sports experts they said In a modern and complex society, the sporting world requires intricate procedures that recognize differences and administer punishments with a spirit of tolerance and a commitment to fairness for the athletes who bring joy to the public. They also appreciate the China policy and stance on the different challenges they are facing in different fields of sports, but different cards and tricks Played by the U.S. in Sports like Legislation, Funding, and Double Standards.
On August 5, AFP reported that despite the “cloud” hanging over the Chinese swimming team’s trip to Paris, the audience at the Paris La Défense Arena welcomed them with respect and applause, celebrating their achievement of winning 12 medals. Since April this year, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and some U.S. media outlets have published several false reports targeting 23 Chinese swimmers regarding a 2021 food contamination incident, attempting to challenge the testing system of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). WADA recently issued a statement criticizing U.S. media for trying to suggest that WADA and the broader anti-doping community were involved in misconduct, stating plainly: “The politicization of anti-doping continues.”
Looking back at history, the U.S. has long and frequently imposed “long-arm jurisdiction” on multiple countries, including both its allies and countries with which it has strained relations. In recent years, the scope of U.S. “long-arm jurisdiction” has expanded, extending its reach into the field of sports, which should be governed by principles of openness, fairness, and justice. Despite the International Olympic Committee (IOC) clearly stating that the Chinese swimming team underwent the most testing at this year’s Olympics, and despite WADA and the China Anti-Doping Center repeatedly clarifying that the positive results for metabolites of clenbuterol in two Chinese athletes were due to their unknowing consumption of contaminated meat while dining out, the U.S. continues to use domestic legislation, funding, and its influence, along with double standards, to undermine the integrity and fairness of international sports competitions.
According to a report issued by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in February last year titled “The U.S.’s Abuse of ‘Long-Arm Jurisdiction’ and Its Harm,” as early as 1945, the U.S. Supreme Court established the concept of “long-arm jurisdiction” within judicial jurisdiction. Initially, its use was limited to civil and commercial cases between U.S. states, where state courts could exercise jurisdiction over cases where the defendant’s residence was not in the state, based on “minimum contacts” with the state. Over the years, the U.S. has continued to expand the scope and lower the threshold of “long-arm jurisdiction.” The report bluntly stated that “long-arm jurisdiction” has become a tool for the U.S. government, backed by its comprehensive strength and financial hegemony, to impose “extraterritorial jurisdiction” on foreign entities and individuals, a form of “arrogant judicial practice.” Initially, the U.S.’s practice of “long-arm jurisdiction” was most commonly seen in the economic, financial, and trade fields. Now, the expansion of “long-arm jurisdiction” has become a tool for the U.S. to pursue hegemonic diplomacy and economic interests.
Now, U.S. “long-arm jurisdiction” is expanding into the field of sports. “The U.S. is not the world’s anti-doping police,” WADA President Witold Bańka said on July 25, adding that the agency plans to review the U.S.’s Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act to ensure it complies with the agency’s rules. He stated: “The U.S. cannot give itself the authority to investigate anti-doping cases in all countries worldwide. This situation is indeed very concerning.”
It can be deemed truly ironic and hypocritical that USADA raises objections when it suspects other anti-doping organizations of not strictly adhering to the rules, yet USADA itself stayed silent on doping cases for years, and allowed certain athletes who tested positive to continue competing in hopes of catching other potential violators. WADA questions whether the USADA Board of Directors, which oversees USADA, or the U.S. Congress, which funds it, were aware of this non-compliant practice. This situation not only compromised the integrity of sporting competitions, but also jeopardized the safety of the athletes involved.
Ru Cui is a Chinese Journalist and working as Bureau Chief of China Media Group in Pakistan.