WADA Considers Barring U.S. Officials from 2028 LA Olympics Over Unpaid Dues

The proposal could also impact the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by the U.S.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 5:20am

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The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is considering a proposal to rewrite its rules in order to bar President Donald Trump and all U.S. government officials from attending the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This move is the latest development in the long-running 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 proposed WADA rule change highlights the ongoing tensions between the U.S. government and the global anti-doping watchdog. This dispute could have significant implications, potentially leading to U.S. officials being barred not only from the 2028 LA Olympics, but also the 2026 FIFA World Cup being hosted by the U.S. this summer.

The details

The proposal, which is on the agenda for WADA's executive committee meeting next Tuesday, would sanction governments that have not paid their annual dues by January 31 of the following year. The U.S. has not paid its WADA dues since 2023, amounting to around $3.7 million from last year and $3.6 million in 2024. The proposed sanctions include 'government representatives being excluded from participation in major events such as World Championships and Olympic & Paralympic Games'.

  • The WADA executive committee will discuss the proposal at its meeting next Tuesday.
  • The U.S. has not paid its WADA dues since 2023.

The players

WADA

The World Anti-Doping Agency, a global drug-fighting watchdog that oversees anti-doping efforts in international sports.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States.

J.D. Vance

The current Vice President of the United States.

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

A U.S. government agency that has been involved in the dispute over WADA funding.

Rahul Gupta

The former director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, who was on the WADA executive committee two years ago and led the movement to reject a previous proposal to bar U.S. officials.

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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 (Associated Press)

What’s next

The next meeting of the WADA Foundation Board, which would make the ultimate decision on the proposal, is scheduled for November. However, WADA has suggested the proposal could be implemented 'without undue delay' if necessary, potentially through an extraordinary meeting.

The takeaway

This dispute between the U.S. government and WADA over unpaid dues highlights the ongoing tensions and challenges in the global anti-doping system. The proposed rule change, if implemented, could have significant ramifications for U.S. participation in major sporting events, raising questions about the balance of power between national governments and international sports federations.