Cotton warns of China collecting athletes’ DNA at 2022 Olympics

Cotton warns of China collecting athletes’ DNA at 2022 Olympics

Read more at The Hill

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on Tuesday urged the Biden administration to ensure protections for U.S. athletes competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics, warning about China potentially trying to collect athletes’ DNA, among other concerns.

The senator detailed his concerns in a letter to President Biden that requested more information on how the U.S. will prepare for next year’s games in Beijing, saying the 2022 Olympics will pose “unique challenges for the safety, security, and privacy of Americans who attend.”

Cotton, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, wrote that China “considers DNA collection a vital intelligence-gathering objective,” warning that officials should be aware of potential Chinese government efforts to obtain samples from athletes.