WADA Considers Barring U.S. Officials from L.A. Olympics Over Unpaid Dues

The global anti-doping agency is weighing a proposal to exclude President Trump and other U.S. government representatives from the 2028 Games.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 5:51pm

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The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is considering a proposal to rewrite its rules in an effort to bar President Donald Trump and all U.S. government officials from attending the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The move is the latest development in an ongoing dispute over the U.S. government's refusal to pay its annual dues to WADA, which is part of a broader protest over the agency's handling of doping cases involving Chinese swimmers and other issues.

Why it matters

The potential WADA rule change highlights the escalating tensions between the U.S. government and the global anti-doping watchdog. The U.S. has withheld its WADA dues since 2023, citing a need for more accountability and transparency from the organization. This latest proposal could have significant implications, not only for the 2028 Olympics but also for the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. is co-hosting.

The details

The proposal, which is on the agenda for WADA's executive committee meeting next Tuesday, would establish a three-tiered set of sanctions for countries that have not paid their annual dues. For the U.S., this would amount to around $3.7 million from last year, plus $3.6 million it didn't pay in 2024. The most extreme sanction would be the exclusion of government representatives, including President Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and members of Congress, from participating in major events such as the Olympics and World Championships.

  • The proposal was first brought up in 2024, when U.S. authorities successfully lobbied for its rejection.
  • The U.S. has not paid its WADA dues since 2023.

The players

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)

The global drug-fighting watchdog that oversees anti-doping policies and regulations for international sports competitions.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States.

J.D. Vance

The current Vice President of the United States.

Sara Carter

The director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

Rahul Gupta

The former director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and a former member of the WADA executive committee.

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What they’re saying

“In spite of WADA's increasing threats, we continue to stand firm in our demand for accountability and transparency from WADA to ensure fair competition in sport.”

— Sara Carter, Director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) (Associated Press)

“I have never heard of a $50-million-budget Swiss foundation being able to enforce a rule to, for example, prevent the United States president from going anywhere. And the next question you have to ask is: How are you going to enforce it? Are they going to post a red notice from Interpol? It's ludicrous. It's clear they have not thought this through.”

— Rahul Gupta, Former director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and former WADA executive committee member (Associated Press)

What’s next

The proposal will be considered at WADA's executive committee meeting next Tuesday. If approved, it would then need to be ratified by WADA's Foundation Board, whose next meeting is scheduled for November.

The takeaway

This dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between the U.S. government and the global anti-doping agency, with the potential WADA rule change raising questions about the limits of an international sports federation's authority and the enforcement of such a policy, especially when it comes to restricting access for the president of a host country.