This bill would amend the Office of National Drug Control Policy Reauthorization Act of 2006 to modify the United States’ authority over the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). It requires a formal determination within 90 days on whether WADA has a credible, independent governance model with fair US representation, and it authorizes the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to pursue governance reforms through consultation with USADA, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and Team USA Athletes’ Commission.
If WADA does not meet these standards, the bill allows withholding up to the full amount of membership dues and imposes a structured spending plan for any funded activities, with oversight by congressional appropriations committees. The bill also codifies new definitions to ensure independent athletes and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee are recognized in governance discussions and reform efforts.
This is a governance- and accountability-focused intervention aimed at strengthening US influence in global anti-doping governance while elevating athlete participation and integrity standards.
At a Glance
What It Does
The ONDCP, in consultation with USADA, USOPC, and Team USA, must assess WADA’s governance and push reforms to ensure US representation on key bodies, including the Executive Committee and Foundation Board. It also creates a mechanism to withhold dues if reforms are not implemented.
Who It Affects
USODCA and USOPC governance bodies, US athletes and independent athletes, USADA, WADA, and congressional appropriations committees.
Why It Matters
Establishes a formal US-driven accountability loop for WADA governance, potentially reshaping international anti-doping governance to improve independence, fairness, and transparency—and aligning it with democratic governance norms.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The bill amends the ONDCP Reauthorization Act of 2006 to expand the United States’ authority over the World Anti-Doping Agency. It redefines key terms to ensure the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and independent athletes are properly represented within WADA’s governance structures.
The ONDCP is tasked with using available tools to push for a governance model that includes fair US representation on WADA’s Executive Committee and Foundation Board, and that imposes stronger conflict-of-interest standards for all relevant committees and groups. The act also requires ongoing collaboration with USADA, USOPC, and Team USA Athletes’ Commission to demonstrate leadership in countering doping and ensuring governance reforms that align with democratic norms.
A formal determination process must conclude within 90 days of enactment to assess whether WADA has achieved these governance standards, and if not, the ONDCP must take steps to secure fair U.S. participation and report back within 180 days on barriers to representation. If governance improvements fail, the bill authorizes voluntary withholding of up to the full amount of WADA membership dues, subject to defined congressional oversight.
Finally, the bill requires a spending plan to be submitted to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees not less than 30 days before any obligation of funds to WADA. This structure ties funding to governance performance and enhances transparency around how US funds are used in international anti-doping governance.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill amends the ONDCP Reauthorization Act to modify US authority over WADA.
A 90-day determination process assesses WADA’s governance credibility and US representation.
Independent athletes from the US and other democracies would gain decision‑making roles on WADA bodies.
The US may withhold up to full membership dues to WADA if reforms are not implemented.
A spending plan and justification must be submitted to appropriations committees before funding is obligated.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
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Definitions and reorganization of key governance terms
The bill revises how the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee is defined within ONDCP-related governance terms and introduces ‘Independent Athlete’ status. It restructures the numbering of paragraphs to place emphasis on governance roles and ensures the independent athlete concept excludes participation in certain international bodies, creating a clear framework for US representation in WADA discussions.
Governance reform requirements for WADA
The ONDCP, in consultation with USADA, USOPC, and Team USA Athletes’ Commission, must pursue reforms to ensure WADA’s governance is credible and independent, with fair representation for the United States in the Executive Committee, Foundation Board, and related advisory groups, standing committees, and working groups.
Accountability determination timeline
Not later than 90 days after enactment, the ONDCP must determine whether WADA has a credible governance model, fully implemented reforms, and allowed US-based independent athletes to participate in decision-making roles across key bodies. If not, the ONDCP must outline corrective steps and continue oversight.
Voluntary nonpayment of dues
If the governance criteria are unmet, the ONDCP may withhold up to the full amount of WADA membership dues. The defined “appropriate committees of Congress” specify Senate and House subcommittees responsible for oversight, ensuring a legislative check on funding decisions.
Spending plan requirement
Before obligating funds to WADA, the ONDCP must submit a spending plan and explanation of proposed uses to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees, creating a formal, auditable budget path for funding WADA-related activities.
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Explore Government in Codify Search →Who Benefits and Who Bears the Cost
Every bill creates winners and losers. Here's who stands to gain and who bears the cost.
Who Benefits
- United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) gains formal opportunities for governance influence and oversight within WADA.
- Independent athletes from the United States and other democratic countries gain representation on WADA’s Executive Committee, Foundation Board, and advisory bodies, aligning governance with athlete interests.
- United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) participates in governance discussions, strengthening the coherence of domestic anti-doping efforts with international policy.
- Team USA Athletes’ Commission secures a voice in governance discussions and implementation of reforms.
- Congressional appropriations committees gain a clearer, codified framework for oversight and funding decisions related to WADA.
Who Bears the Cost
- World Anti-Doping Agency could face increased governance requirements and potential reputational or funding pressures if reforms are not adopted.
- ONDCP and related U.S. agencies incur additional administrative and oversight costs to implement the determination, reporting, and spending-plan processes.
- WADA membership dues may be withheld, potentially reducing WADA funding in the short term and requiring alternative funding arrangements.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The central tension is balancing robust US influence over global anti-doping governance with the risk that coercive funding tools could destabilize WADA’s operations or provoke countermeasures that undermine international cooperation in anti-doping efforts.
The bill creates a structured, US-centered mechanism to influence WADA governance by tying recognition and funding to reform. While this strengthens the leverage of U.S. policy in global anti-doping governance, it also raises tensions around international cooperation and funding stability for WADA.
The reliance on a 90-day determination and a 180-day reporting deadline creates a rapid-cycle accountability loop, but leaves room for disputes about whether governance reforms meet the standard of “credible and independent governance.” The use of voluntary nonpayment as a tool introduces an enforcement dynamic that calls into question the transactional nature of international sports diplomacy and may invite reciprocal responses from WADA or other parties. The fiscal oversight requirement (spending plan to appropriations committees) improves transparency but may slow disbursements or complicate long-lead initiatives that require steady funding.
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