The World Anti-Doping Agency has confirmed that nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers were found to have tested positive for a banned substance several months before the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. While China has attributed these positive tests to contamination, the agency stands by its review of the situation.
In a statement released on Saturday, WADA has confirmed that 23 Chinese swimmers were found to have tested positive for trimetazidine, also known as TMZ, a performance-enhancing drug, earlier this year. In addition, the agency has responded to media reports claiming that it had dismissed the positive results, describing them as “misleading and potentially defamatory.”
According to reports from The New York Times and the Daily Telegraph, it was revealed on Saturday that several Chinese swimmers had tested positive for COVID-19. The Times mentioned that there was no public disclosure or suspensions for these athletes at the time of the positive tests. These swimmers, who comprised almost half of China’s team at the Tokyo Games, had even won medals in some cases.
According to WADA, the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) informed them in June 2021 that the swimmers had tested positive due to inadvertent exposure to a substance through contamination. WADA conducted a thorough review of CHINADA’s decision and the contamination theory over several weeks.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) stated that during their review, they gathered undisclosed scientific data on TMZ and sought advice from independent scientific specialists to investigate both the theory of contamination and the potential advantages of low doses of TMZ for athletes participating in a swimming competition event.
The investigators of WADA were unable to travel to China due to COVID-19 restrictions. Consequently, they were unable to disprove the possibility that contamination was the source of TMZ. The analytical data in the file supported this conclusion.
According to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the athletes involved in the contamination incident were found to have no fault or negligence. WADA, after careful consideration and consulting with external counsel, determined that an appeal was not necessary in this case.
Olivier Rabin, the senior director of science and medicine for WADA, stated that the contamination scenario is backed by the consistent presence of low concentrations and the absence of any doping patterns.
According to Gunter Younger, the director of WADA Intelligence and Investigations, an investigation was not initiated due to insufficient evidence and a lack of credible information.
In a statement, Younger emphasized that WADA I&I meticulously followed all necessary protocols and thoroughly examined every lead and line of inquiry throughout the investigation.
According to Rabin, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has notified the International Testing Agency (ITA), an independent anti-doping group based in Switzerland, about the matter.
According to The Times, the International Testing Agency is currently conducting a review of the case.
According to The Times, CHINADA stated that its athletes have not violated any anti-doping laws. Due to privacy concerns, the organization cannot provide further details about the case without the athletes’ consent.
WADA did not disclose the identities of any of the swimmers involved in their statement.
Travis Tygart, the CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, expressed his deep disappointment upon learning that the Chinese swimmers had tested positive for TMZ in the lead-up to the 2021 Olympic Games. The news was truly crushing for him.
In a statement on Saturday, Tygart expressed his dismay over the revelation that the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency had concealed these positive test results. He emphasized that this act of sweeping the positives under the carpet went against the global rules that are meant to be applied equally to all. Tygart empathized with the affected athletes, acknowledging the potential loss of podium moments, financial opportunities, and irreplaceable memories with their families.
In his statement, Younger refuted any allegations of a cover-up and emphasized that the data in their possession clearly indicated that there was no attempt to conceal the positive tests. According to him, the Chinese authorities had reported the positive tests in the same manner as they usually do.
TMZ is a medication that effectively boosts blood flow to the heart and is commonly prescribed for the treatment of angina. However, it has been prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) since 2014, due to its potential misuse in the world of competitive sports.
Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva had a positive drug test before the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games. At the time, she was just 15 years old. Despite the positive test, she was initially allowed to compete. However, later on, the Court of Arbitration for Sport disqualified her, resulting in Russia losing its team event gold medal.
Olympic officials stated that Valieva attributed her positive drug test to a mix-up involving her grandfather’s heart medication.