LA 2028 organizing committee promises to address doping and security concerns

All necessary measures will be taken to ensure the safety and fairness of the 2028 Olympic Games, said the organizing committee for the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics (LA 2028) at a press conference on Saturday. The press conference addressed potential security concerns, and the long-arm jurisdiction granted to the US by the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act.

The US Olympic and Paralympic Committees are working diligently to ensure fairness for all participants at the Los Angeles Games, said Casey Wasserman, the LA 2028 organizing committee's chairperson, when responding to Chinese media's query.

The Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, which was passed by the US Senate on November 16, 2020, grants the US the power to criminally prosecute and judge those involved in doping among American athletes, and even sue the International Olympic Committee.

Many view this act as an example of the US prioritizing domestic law over international law, substituting US rules for international ones, and showcasing a "long-arm jurisdiction" approach.

Eliyan Knighton, who competed for the US in the men's 200 meters at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, had previously tested positive for the steroid (trenbolone) in an out-of-competition doping test, but before the Paris Olympic trials began the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) unexpectedly decided that the positive result was due to contaminated meat.

In Knighton's case, USADA issued a public statement before the World Anti-Doping Agency had reviewed the case or the appeal period had expired.

China's Anti-Doping Center called on international testing agencies to increase the frequency of anti-doping checks on US track athletes during the Paris Games on Thursday and recommended that the Athletics Integrity Unit intensify anti-doping oversight of US track and field to prevent potential doping issues.

The US has ignored its long-standing doping problems while focusing on "extraterritorial jurisdiction" and imposing sanctions on other countries. This has severely impacted the performance of Chinese swimmers.

Prior to the Paris Olympics, some US institutions and media stirred controversy over alleged doping issues with Chinese swimmers. According to the World Aquatics, since January 2024, Chinese swimmers have undergone an average of 21 drug tests per athlete, compared with four for Australian swimmers and six for US swimmers.

When Los Angeles successfully bid for the 2028 Summer Olympics, it promised that the games would be the most environmentally friendly in history, a goal that will be largely achieved through a "no-car" policy, a fact that was reiterated by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass during a recent press conference.

At the same time, the rise in homelessness in the area has turned some subway trains and buses into de facto shelters, making many passengers feel unsafe, with notable violent incidents exacerbating these concerns.

"The Los Angeles Olympics received a special security waiver from the US government in January, three years earlier than any previous Olympics. This means the federal government has already begun efforts to ensure the safety of the games," Wasserman said.

"Our top priority is to prepare thoroughly to address all possible challenges - whether related to security, operations, or other aspects and to deliver an incredible Olympic Games for the world," he added.