Montreal (AFP)

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is considering sanctions against the United States if they suspend their financial contribution but will not let American athletes be "hostages of political games", assured the president of this organization on Friday.

Witold Banka confirmed on Friday that the global anti-doping policeman will investigate possible sanctions against the United States, which has threatened to suspend its annual contribution of $ 2.7 million for lack of swift WADA reforms.

Several governments have called on WADA to modify its regulations so that a country which refuses to pay its financial contribution can be declared "non-compliant", a spokesperson for the agency based in Montreal said Thursday evening.

In an interview with Reuters on Thursday, Banka said American athletes would be exposed to "serious and far-reaching consequences" if their country followed through on threats of non-payment for their participation.

On Friday, the president qualified his remarks, assuring that clean American athletes had nothing to fear.

"Fairness for athletes around the world remains my number one priority," Banka said in a statement on Friday.

"I will never let clean athletes become hostages in political games," he continues.

"Within the framework of the international standard for code compliance (World Anti-Doping), there are many possible consequences which do not affect athletes."

The executive committee of the anti-doping agency could look into the issue at its next meeting on September 14 and 15.

Any possible sanctions, however, will need to be validated by WADA's Compliance Review Committee, according to the spokesperson.

"We will review the regulations to see if they need to be strengthened in light of the current situation," the president said in his statement.

"I am ready to work with the US government on this issue and I hope it will continue to contribute to the world anti-doping program."

US threats to suspend financial participation in WADA were contained in an explosive report from a White House organ, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), revealed last June.

WADA had refuted ONDCP's conclusions, accusing it of presenting "numerous inaccuracies, preconceived ideas and lies".

© 2020 AFP