The Justice Department launched an investigation into Chinese swimmers and international sports organizers this week, a major affront to China just weeks before the 2024 Olympics begin in Paris.
The investigation relates to allegations that 24 Chinese swimmers, including gold medallists, were unfairly allowed to compete in the last Summer Olympics despite having failed doping tests weeks earlier.
Federal investigators would undoubtedly have angered Chinese authorities by concluding that the failed drug tests were due to food contamination, a seemingly unlikely story that was accepted by World Aquatics, the world swimming governing body.
The Justice Department’s decision to proceed with a criminal investigation was initially The New York TimesCiting federal government sources, it described the investigation as a “dramatic escalation” against China and World Aquatics.
after that Times After a report in April revealed the full extent of the scandal, the House China Committee called on federal investigators to look into doping conspiracies even if they took place outside the United States.
Swimmers implicated in the scandal won three gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics, less than a month after the World Anti-Doping Agency informally decided not to dispute Chinese officials’ explanations for the failed tests.
World Aquatics confirmed to The Associated Press that its secretary-general, Brent Nowicki, had been subpoenaed to testify in the investigation.
“World Aquatics can confirm that Executive Director Brent Nowicki has received a witness subpoena from the U.S. government,” the federation said in a statement to The Associated Press. “He has scheduled meetings with the government, which will likely eliminate the need for him to testify before a grand jury.”
The Paris Olympics will open on July 26 and run until August 11. As in all previous Games, China and the United States are expected to bring home the most medals.
