The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) The New York Times The case concerns an investigation into China’s 2016 and 2017 swimming teams, which is separate from the recent allegations of doping by Chinese athletes at the Tokyo Olympics.
In April, members of the U.S. swimming team were informed of positive drug tests on the Chinese team, which officials said could affect the results of several races and the medal count in Tokyo. Sports Illustrated Pat Ford. The New York Times He noted that China’s top female swimmer, Zhang Yufei, tested positive for the banned drug trimetazidine but continued to swim anyway. According to WebMD, the drug helps metabolize fatty acids, making oxygen available to the body and increasing blood flow to the heart. Yufei won four medals at the Tokyo Olympics, including two gold medals.
Men’s gold medal-winning swimmers Wang Shun and Qin Haiyang also tested positive for drugs.
Chinese athletes’ positive tests at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have raised questions about the doping cases surrounding clenbuterol that occurred in 2016 and 2017. WADA blames the cases on meat contamination. WADA noted that “trace amounts” of clenbuterol caused the athletes to test positive, and that the threat of contamination was highest in countries such as China, Mexico, and Guatemala. WADA also noted that three current members of the Chinese swimming team were among the athletes who tested positive in 2016 and 2017. WADA did not disclose whether the athletes who tested positive were Yufei, Wang, or Haiyan.
“WADA’s Contaminants Working Group was established to provide expert advice and recommendations to the global anti-doping community regarding prohibited substances that may be common contaminants,” WADA said Thursday. “Over the years, rules have been adjusted to ensure fairness for athletes who unintentionally take a banned substance and to protect the system from cheaters. Research has shown that spending a lot of time in China, Mexico and other countries greatly increases the likelihood of exposure to clenbuterol, which is found in meat.”
Prominent figures associated with the U.S. swimming team were, to say the least, less than thrilled with WADA’s allegations.
“This is not OK, and it’s very frustrating for athletes to have that constant feeling that sport may not be fair,” said two-time Olympian Lilly King. “We sacrifice everything, including our privacy, to compete on a level playing field, and it’s very frustrating to not be able to trust other people to do the same.”
2016 Olympian Cody Miller criticized WADA itself.
“It’s really disappointing and frustrating for any athlete who has to deal with USADA,” he said. “They come to my house while I’m trying to get my kids to bed and eat dinner, and I have to stand in the bathroom with strangers and pee in a cup. This is normal in the United States, where we have the actual anti-doping agency, USADA.”
USA Swimming CEO Tim Hinchey is hopeful that things will get better and that there will be a level playing field at this summer’s Olympics.
“We have always been firmly committed to providing a level playing field for our sport. USADA is doing a fantastic job. They are very rigorous and do a fantastic job. Our athletes are tested frequently. It’s unfortunate and disruptive again during Olympic season,” Hinchey said. “I have confidence in the new members of World Aquatics and the new Integrity Unit they’ve put together is an important step. For our athletes, it’s all about making the team now and we’re going to have a level playing field here.”
As the U.S. continues to properly prepare for the Olympics in Paris next month, many questions remain surrounding the fairness of the swimming, especially when it comes to China.
