Under-fire World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Thursday it would launch an independent review over its handling of a case that allowed 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned substance to avoid punishment.
The investigation will be led by Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier, a former attorney general of the canton of Vaud, who WADA said will have access to all files and documents related to the case and be free to consult any independent experts.
Cottier is expected to deliver his findings within two months.
"WADA’s integrity and reputation is under attack," WADA President Witold Banka said in a statement.
"WADA has been unfairly accused of bias in favour of China by not appealing the CHINADA case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport," he said referring to China's anti-doping agency and sport's highest court respectively," Banka added.
"We continue to reject the false accusations and we are pleased to be able to put these questions into the hands of an experienced, respected and independent prosecutor."
Calls for an independent investigation have grown since the New York Times reported on Saturday that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned drug trimetazidine (TMZ) months before the COVID-delayed Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
The swimmers avoided sanctions after an investigation by Chinese authorities ruled the adverse analytical findings, or AAFs, were the result of being inadvertently exposed to the drug through contamination.
A report determined all the swimmers who tested positive were staying at the same hotel where traces of trimetazidine (TMZ), which is found in heart medication, were discovered in the kitchen.
WADA has defended its handling of the case, saying it had no evidence to challenge China's findings and that external counsel had advised against appealing them.
RESTORE CONFIDENCE
USADA chief Travis Tygart has accused WADA of being involved in a "potential cover-up" and the anti-doping body has responded by threatening legal action.
The New York Times reported that the White House had also called for an inquiry as have the anti-doping authorities of Britain and Australia.
WADA said it will also send a compliance audit team to China to assess the state of its anti-doping program and will invite independent auditors from the broader anti-doping community to join the mission.
The announcement of an inquiry USADA had demanded from WADA did nothing to ease tensions between the governing bodies, with Tygart dismissing the investigation and CHINADA audit as toothless.
"By calling this an 'independent' investigation, WADA leadership is trying to pull the wool over our eyes," Tygart said in a statement.
"The world’s athletes deserve a truly independent review commission with a wide scope of review that is constituted with an independent athlete representative.
"A truly independent investigation also requires investigation of facts on the ground in China related to this case to include interviews of hotel staff, athletes, coaches."
