Restoring Confidence in the World Anti-Doping Agency Act of 2025
Restoring Confidence in the World Anti-Doping Agency Act of 2025 would give the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) new authority to oversee and influence the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Working with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), and the Team USA Athletes’ Commission, ONDCP must push for a credible, independent WADA governance model, enforce governance reforms (including conflict-of-interest policies), and ensure independent athlete participation in WADA decision-making bodies. The bill also creates mechanisms for accountability, including a 90-day determination deadline, a 180-day follow-up report if governance concerns persist, and the possibility for the U.S. to withhold up to all membership dues to WADA. Additionally, it requires a detailed spending plan to Congress before funds are committed to WADA. In short, the legislation uses funding leverage and formal oversight to push WADA toward more transparent governance and greater involvement of independent athletes and democratic countries in its leadership and decision-making bodies.
Key Points
- 1Expanded ONDCP authority over WADA. The ONDCP, in coordination with USADA, USOPC, and the Team USA Athletes’ Commission, must actively pursue a credible, independent governance model for WADA, ensure proper conflict-of-interest policies, and promote meaningful participation by independent athletes.
- 2New definitions and scope. The bill updates terms (e.g., renaming the US Olympic Committee to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee) and adds a new category, “Independent athlete,” defined as an Olympic/Paralympic athlete not serving on IOC, IPC, any IOC/IPC-recognized international federation, USOPC, or WADA, to ensure athlete voices are represented.
- 3Governance reforms and representation. The ONDCP must push for governance reforms at WADA that ensure fair representation for the United States, including representation on the Executive Committee, Foundation Board, and relevant advisory groups, with independent athletes having decision-making roles where possible.
- 4Timelines and accountability. The bill requires a determination within 90 days of enactment about whether WADA has a credible governance model and reforms, and a follow-up report within 180 days if deficiencies exist, detailing barriers to U.S. participation and representation.
- 5Potential use of funding leverage. If WADA does not meet governance and representation standards, ONDCP may withhold up to the full amount of U.S. membership dues to WADA, in coordination with designated congressional committees.
- 6Spending transparency. Before ONDCP obligates funds to WADA, it must submit a spending plan and justification to the relevant Appropriations Committees in both chambers.
- 7Congressional oversight. The bill explicitly ties funding decisions to oversight by specified Senate and House subcommittees, ensuring ongoing legislative scrutiny of U.S. engagement with WADA.