‘The Dark Side’: Sensational Paris Olympics Doping Claim Goes Viral on ‘X’ – News18

While the Olympics 2024 is currently underway in full vigour in Paris, a shocking theory, surrounding the Summer Games, is now doing the rounds on social media. Referring to it as the “Dark Side of the Olympic Games,” a social media user shared a post that made some sensational claims about the “Anti Doping Agency Scam” at the Paris Games. Taking a brutal dig at the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) system, the social media user branded it as a “scam.”

“Did you know the Olympic Anti-Doping Agency WADA is controlled by the US and it allows 3 countries to hold 63% of all Therapeutic DRUG use exemptions and the same 3 countries hold the most medals? The agency itself is set up with the sole purpose to enable massive doping of the US/Western athletes and to forbid and target other athletes in the name of anti-doping,” read a now-viral post shared on X (formerly Twitter).

“Athletes can legally dope themselves with performance-enhancing drugs, all under the guise of ‘medical treatment.’ All thanks to the system that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has created, a system that allows Western countries to dominate the medal tally with: WADA’s ‘exemption list.’ This list is a little-known secret that allows athletes to use banned drugs, as long as they get approval. Approval by whom? US controlled WADA,” the post added.

The post went on to claim that the top three countries that occupy the top spots on the medal tally get benefits from the alleged “loophole.”

“In 2015, 653 American athletes had applied for exemptions, with a staggering 60% approval rate, while Russia had a 37% approval rate and China had a single-digit number of approved exemptions,” the viral X post claimed.

The post even suggested that other Olympic events like cycling, athletics, triathlon, swimming and skiing have also been impacted by the consequences of doping. “Games should be about fair play and sportsmanship, instead WADA is used as a US weapon to attack adversaries in foreign policy,” the post added.

Reacting to it, one social media user commented, “Omg. We can sense something is fishy. Is this the main reason Russia is not part of the Olympics?”

“So, China is super commendable for beating these doping gang,” read another response.

One person curiously asked, “Just for some medals? If it is true, am I the only one finding it so silly? Isn’t that a complete waste of power?”

While there is no official confirmation to substantiate the sensational theories or the viral ‘X’ thread, the doping events have already marred the ongoing edition of the Olympics.

A report published by Reuters recently claimed that a Greek athlete tested positive for banned substances at the Paris Olympics. The athlete was expelled from the athletes’ village, the Greek Olympic Committee said yesterday, as per the Reuters report.