A war of words that has gone on for months became more substantive when the United States did not make its $3.6 million payment before a Dec. 31 deadline.

The United States has withheld 2024 dues payments to the World Anti-Doping Agency, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy told Reuters on Wednesday, calling for reforms to the global sport watchdog.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency has welcomed the decision of its country’s government to withhold a payment of 3.6million US dollars (£2.9m) to the World Anti-Doping Agency.