Increased Testing for Chinese Swimmers

Increased Testing for Chinese Swimmers

Chinese swimmers participating in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games will undergo drug testing at double the frequency compared to some other nations. This decision comes after doping authorities faced criticism when it was revealed that 23 swimmers, who tested positive for a banned substance, were cleared to compete in the Tokyo Games.

Eleven of these swimmers, who tested positive for heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ) seven months before the delayed 2021 Tokyo Games, have been selected for the Paris Olympics. In response, the governing body, World Aquatics, has acknowledged that trust in the anti-doping system was "weakened" by this incident.

To address these concerns, the International Testing Agency (ITA) has committed to testing Chinese athletes eight times between early 2024 and the start of the Paris Games. This is twice the standard testing frequency.

Moreover, efforts will be made to ensure that these tests are conducted by an authority other than the China Anti-Doping Agency (Chinada) and that the tests are analyzed outside of China. This move is intended to bolster confidence in the fairness and integrity of the testing process.

World Aquatics aims to reassure athletes and the global sporting community following comments from Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, who expressed doubts about the World Anti-Doping Agency's (Wada) ability to enforce its policies effectively.

US anti-doping authorities have also criticized Wada, which has responded with threats of legal action against its detractors. Despite the controversy, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has declared its "full confidence" in Wada and urged all sporting agencies to respect the anti-doping body.