WADA confirms 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive before Tokyo Games, accepted contamination finding

The World Anti-Doping Company (WADA) confirmed reviews on Saturday that 23 Chinese language swimmers had examined constructive for a banned drug forward of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, however it accepted the nation’s findings it was on account of substance contamination.

A number of media reviews mentioned the swimmers examined constructive for trimetazidine (TMZ), which is present in coronary heart remedy, months earlier than the COVID-delayed Video games started within the Japanese capital in July 2021.

CHINADA, China’s anti-doping company, and the Chinese language Swimming Affiliation didn’t instantly reply to Reuters’ requests for remark.

WADA mentioned it was notified in June 2021 of CHINADA’s resolution to simply accept that the swimmers returned antagonistic analytical findings (AAF) after inadvertently being uncovered to the drug by contamination.

The worldwide anti-doping physique, which has the authority to enchantment the rulings of nationwide doping businesses, mentioned it reviewed the choice and consulted scientific consultants and exterior authorized counsel to check the contamination concept offered by CHINADA.

“WADA in the end concluded that it was not ready to disprove the likelihood that contamination was the supply of TMZ and it was appropriate with the analytical information within the file,” the worldwide anti-doping physique mentioned in an announcement.

“WADA additionally concluded that the athletes can be held to haven’t any fault or negligence. As such, and based mostly on the recommendation of exterior counsel, WADA thought of an enchantment was not warranted.”

China’s 30-member swimming crew gained six medals on the Tokyo Video games, together with three golds.

With out mitigating circumstances, athletes who fail doping assessments are often topic to bans of two to 4 years for a primary offence and life for a second.

World Aquatics, the game’s international physique previously generally known as FINA, mentioned it was assured the constructive assessments had been dealt with “diligently and professionally”.

“With regard to the AAFs … they had been fastidiously thought of by the FINA Doping Management Assessment Board,” it added. “Supplies regarding the supply of the AAFs had been topic to impartial knowledgeable scrutiny retained by FINA.

“World Aquatics is assured that these AAFs had been dealt with diligently and professionally, and in accordance with relevant anti-doping rules, together with the WADA Code.”

Reuters