close
close

The CEO of World Aquatics must appear before Congress as part of the Chinese doping investigation

The CEO of World Aquatics must appear before Congress as part of the Chinese doping investigation

Managing Director of World Aquatics Brent Nowicki was asked to testify in a US criminal investigation into the handling of Chinese doping tests.

The Associated Press reported Thursday that Nowicki had been subpoenaed to “arrange a meeting with the government that will likely eliminate the need for him to testify before a grand jury.”






World Aquatics has remained largely unidentified in the Chinese doping scandal, during which 23 swimmers tested positive a total of 28 times at a training camp in Hangzhou in early 2021. The Chinese anti-doping agency cleared those swimmers in April because their tests for trimetazidine were due to environmental contamination. The World Anti-Doping Agency agreed with that decision in June. Many of those swimmers competed in the Tokyo Olympics, and up to a dozen could swim in the Paris Olympics, which take place later this month.

In the US, Congress has launched an investigation into the matter, including testimony from swimmers on Capitol Hill last week. In May, the House of Representatives Special Committee on China asked the FBI and the Justice Department to investigate the case. The US Anti-Doping Agency and its head, Travis Tygart, have not been shy in criticising WADA’s handling of the case. WADA has categorically argued that it followed its procedures in the name of sporting justice and has appointed an independent lawyer to review the case.

American Nowicki was appointed Chief Executive Officer of World Aquatics in June 2021. Husayn Al-Musallam. For eight years, he served as senior advisor and head of the anti-doping division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, including in January 2021, when many Chinese swimmers tested positive.

Read more: