Former IOC Member Dick Pound Warns US Could Lose Olympic Hosting Privileges

The United States is facing the potential loss of both the 2028 Summer and 2034 Winter Olympics due to concerns over investigations into Chinese swimmers by American law enforcement, according to former senior International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Dick Pound.

Pound, who played a key role in the establishment of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), expressed his worries about the implications of the Rodchenkov Act, which the US is using to probe positive tests of 23 Chinese swimmers. The legislation passed in 2020 gives US law enforcement jurisdiction over international sporting events involving American athletes or with financial ties to the United States.

“This legislation is not in compliance with the anti-doping code,” Pound told Reuters. “It could lead to the United States being deemed non-compliant by the compliance review committee, ultimately disqualifying them from hosting the Olympics.”

While WADA had no immediate comment on the issue, other anti-doping officials have confirmed that the possibility of US non-compliance is being discussed. The agency believes the Rodchenkov Act allows US authorities to reexamine cases that have already been settled, going against the principles of the anti-doping code.

Despite already being in the advanced stages of preparation for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, Pound suggested that the IOC could delay the confirmation of Salt Lake City as host of the 2034 Winter Olympics as a message to the US. Salt Lake is expected to be approved as the 2034 hosts at the upcoming IOC Congress, but Pound proposed postponing the decision to send a clear signal about the potential consequences of the Rodchenkov Act.

If the US does not rectify its compliance issues, it could jeopardize its chances of hosting future Olympic Games, raising concerns about the country’s role in the international sporting community.