At the beginning of 2021, prior to the Tokyo Olympics being postponed due to the pandemic, a significant number of China’s top swimmers were found to have tested positive for a banned substance during a local competition.
Chinese authorities investigated the situation and attributed the mass contamination to a heart medication, trimetazidine (TMZ), present in the hotel kitchen where the swimmers had stayed for a New Year’s event in late December 2020 and early January 2021.
Despite the World Anti-Doping Agency looking into the matter, they eventually accepted China’s explanation and allowed the country to keep the incident confidential.
The swimmers were not suspended or disqualified and went on to compete in the Olympics, with some even winning medals for China. A few of them are expected to perform well in the upcoming Paris Olympics.
This unusual incident, which would have remained unknown, came to light through leaked information, shedding light on one of the most peculiar events in swimming history.
Here are six key points from the report.
Unanswered questions linger from the Chinese investigation.
The global anti-doping system relies on trust between nations to ensure fair competition. When 23 Chinese athletes tested positive for the same substance, it was up to China’s anti-doping agency to investigate.
Despite claims of an extensive investigation, key questions about how the drug entered the athletes’ systems and spread in the kitchen remained unanswered.
Contrasting reactions to a similar incident involving a Russian figure skater.
When a Russian skater tested positive for the same drug, WADA challenged Russia’s decision to clear her, highlighting inconsistencies in how different countries handle doping cases.
The skater claimed innocence due to contamination, mirroring China’s explanation. The response to this incident differed from the Chinese case, raising questions about consistency in anti-doping measures.
2024-04-20 06:53:36
Source from www.nytimes.com