Positive samples
Reports: Suspicion of mass doping among swimmers in China
At the Tokyo Olympics, the 30-member Chinese team won six medals, including three golds. photo
© Michael Kappeler/dpa
The allegations are serious. According to media reports, positive doping samples were found in 23 swimmers from China at the beginning of 2021. There were no consequences.
According to media reports, 23 top Chinese swimmers are said to be missing despite positive results Doping tests have gone unpunished. According to the report, the World Anti-Doping Agency Wada decided not to investigate the matter itself and trusted the Chinese authorities’ account, which cited contaminated meals in an athletes’ hotel as the cause of the positive tests.
According to research by the ARD doping editorial team and the “New York Times”, the swimmers are said to have tested positive at a national competition in China at the beginning of 2021. The banned heart drug trimetazidine is said to have been found at the competition in Shijiazhuang. At the Tokyo Olympics, the 30-member Chinese team won six medals, including three golds.
According to the report submitted by China, the positive samples were caused by contamination. Food was cooked for all affected athletes in a hotel kitchen in Shijiazhuang. The report shows that more than two months later, investigators inspected the kitchen and found traces of trimetazidine in the extractor hood, on spice containers and in the drain. Accordingly, the doping substance got into the athletes’ bodies without their knowledge.
The Chinese Anti-Doping Agency stated that there had been “no anti-doping violations” and therefore there was no need for action. In response to a request from ARD, the World Anti-Doping Agency Wada said that, based on the analysis data, it saw “no basis” to “challenge the declarations of contamination”. WADA adhered to its rules. The World Swimming Federation announced that the events had been examined carefully and professionally. Therefore, there was no need to do anything further.