WADA delays decision on potential ban of Trump from major sporting events until after World Cup

Key facts

• The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) executive committee postponed a decision on barring government officials from major sporting events if their countries withhold dues, pushing the potential conflict with President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials until after the 2026 World Cup.
• The U.S. has not paid its WADA dues since 2023, withholding a total of $7.3 million over 2024 and 2025 in protest of WADA’s handling of a case involving Chinese swimmers.
• If adopted later this year, the new rule could place Trump and U.S. lawmakers on a banned list for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
• WADA spokesman James Fitzgerald previously told The Associated Press the proposed rule would not be applied retroactively so the World Cup, LA and SLC Games would not be covered.
• The U.S. lost its seat on the WADA executive committee after Rahul Gupta, the U.S. representative during the Biden administration, led the effort to reject the proposal in 2024.