Paris, France - August 09, 2024

Bach made the remarks at a press conference during the Paris Olympics, addressing the recent controversy involving the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Bach emphasized the IOC's full confidence in WADA, urging all involved parties to engage in dialog to resolve the dispute and ensure fair treatment of all athletes.

The controversy stems from the remarks by WADA that USADA allowed athletes who violated anti-doping rules to continue competing without sanctions. In exchange for their cooperation in providing information on other doping violations, these athletes were reportedly shielded from public exposure and penalties.

WADA has condemned this practice as a blatant violation of the World Anti-Doping Code, which threatens the integrity of global sporting competition.

Bach reiterated that the IOC has delegated its entire anti-doping responsibilities to the ITA and WADA, underlining that the IOC will not interfere in individual doping cases.

He maintained that WADA, as the supreme authority, is responsible for ensuring compliance with anti-doping rules and safeguarding the fairness of competition.

Shotlist:
Paris, France - Aug 9, 2024:
1. Various of flags, Eiffel Tower;
Paris, France - July 2024
2. Various of stadium, Paris 2024 logo;
Paris, France - Aug 9, 2024
3. Press conference;
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Thomas Bach, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president:
"This is all about the respect for the supreme authority of WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency). And we have been calling on everybody to respect this supreme authority as the IOC (International Olympic Committee) does. And we have delegated our entire anti-doping system to ITA (Court of Arbitration for Sport) and CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport), and ITA working under this supreme authority of WADA. And we have full confidence in the work of WADA and have asked all the stakeholders involved in this public dispute to sit together and have a dialogue to come to a solution which ensures a fair competition and the fair treatment of all athletes of the world.";
5. Press conference;
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Thomas Bach, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president:
"Again the IOC has delegated all our anti-doping system to ITA and WADA. And we recognize the WADA as the supreme authority in anti-doping and therefore we will not interfere in any way in individual doping cases, one way or the other. For us, WADA is the body to decide.";
FILE: Paris, France - April 17, 2024
7. Various of Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games logo, sign reading "Paris 2024";
8. Various of spectator stands under construction;
Paris, France - July 2024
9. Various of signs, stadiums for Paris 2024; other buildings, pedestrians;
10. Olympic logo.

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