The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirmed reports that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for a banned drug, trimetazidine (TMZ), before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
However, WADA accepted China’s explanation that the positive tests were due to substance contamination.
WADA stated it was informed in June 2021 of CHINADA’s decision to attribute the positive tests to inadvertent exposure to the drug through contamination.
WADA reviewed the decision, consulted scientific experts, and sought external legal counsel to assess the contamination theory proposed by CHINADA.
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“WADA ultimately concluded that it was not in a position to disprove the possibility that contamination was the source of TMZ and it was compatible with the analytical data in the file,” WADA said in a statement. “WADA also concluded that … the athletes would be held to have no fault or negligence. As such, and based on the advice of external counsel, WADA considered an appeal was not warranted.”
China’s swimming team, consisting of 30 members, earned six medals at the Tokyo Games, including three golds.
Travis Tygart, CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, criticized WADA, stating that it had failed in its mission to combat doping effectively.
“This appears to be a devastating stab in the back of clean athletes and a deep betrayal of all the athletes who compete fairly and follow the rules,” Tygart told The New York Times, noting he had provided WADA with doping allegations against Chinese swimming multiple times since 2020. “All of those with dirty hands in burying these positives and suppressing the voices of courageous whistle-blowers must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the rules and law.”
In typical circumstances, athletes who fail doping tests face bans ranging from two to four years for a first offense and a lifetime ban for a second offense.
World Aquatics, formerly known as FINA, expressed confidence that the positive tests were handled “diligently and professionally.”
“With regard to the AAFs … they were carefully considered by the FINA Doping Control Review Board,” World Aquatics said. “Materials relating to the source of the AAFs were subject to independent expert scrutiny retained by FINA.
“World Aquatics is confident that these AAFs were handled diligently and professionally, and in accordance with applicable anti-doping regulations, including the WADA Code.”
