WADA has faced criticism since media reports that Chinese swimmers had tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) – which can enhance performance – before the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, but had not not been sanctioned.
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The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on Thursday it had asked an independent prosecutor to review its handling of the case in which 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a prescription heart drug. The organization will also send a “compliance audit team” to China to “assess the current status of the country’s anti-doping program” led by anti-doping body CHINADA.
WADA has faced criticism since media reports over the weekend that swimmers had tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) – which can enhance performance – ahead of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, but were not sanctioned after WADA accepted the Chinese authorities’ argument that the matter was caused. by food contamination.
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What is the doping affair surrounding Chinese swimmers and what has been said?
United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) head Travis Tygart called the situation a “potential cover-up” and USADA on Thursday called WADA’s announcement of an independent investigation “self-serving.” “.
WADA said in a statement that it had asked former Swiss attorney general Eric Cottier to review his handling of the case.
“The integrity and reputation of WADA are under attack. “In recent days, WADA has been unfairly accused of bias in favor of China by not appealing the CHINADA case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport,” WADA President Witold Banka said in a statement.
“We continue to reject the false accusations and we are pleased to be able to put these matters in the hands of an experienced, respected and independent prosecutor,” Banka said.
The AMA said Cottier would have “full and unrestricted” access to all their files and documents on the case and added that he is free to consult any independent expert as he sees fit.
Cottier was asked to assess whether there had been any bias against China or “any undue interference or other irregularity” in the handling of the case.
The Swiss lawyer will also be asked to determine whether the decision not to challenge or appeal CHINADA’s verdict that the cases involved food contamination was reasonable.
Cottier, who served as prosecutor general of the canton of Vaud in Switzerland for 17 years before retiring in 2022 and had previously served as a judge at the court, was asked to deliver his findings in two months.
‘No proof’
The team traveling to China will also include “independent auditors from the broader anti-doping community.”
WADA said the visit was part of its regular compliance monitoring program.
WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said: “Although no evidence has been presented to support the allegations made against WADA, we wish to address the matter as quickly and as comprehensively as possible. so that it is handled appropriately in advance. of the next Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.
WADA said it had received requests for review from a “small number of its stakeholders” and that their decisions had been supported by their executive committee.
USADA had called for major reform of WADA on Tuesday, urging governments and sports governing bodies to “revise WADA to ensure that the cover-up of positive samples on the eve of the Olympics can never happen again “.
USADA said in a statement Thursday that WADA’s latest statement “illustrates the problem with the current system.”
“By calling this an ‘independent’ investigation, WADA leadership is attempting to mislead us,” USADA said in a statement. “Instead of a lawyer hand-picked by WADA with a limited, self-serving scope of review, athletes around the world deserve a truly independent review board with a broad scope of review, constituted of an independent representative of athletes and impartial and respected jurists in the fight against doping. experience designated by government consensus.
“A truly independent investigation also requires an investigation of the facts on the ground in China related to this matter, including interviews with hotel staff, athletes, coaches, etc. (not just a compliance audit of CHINADA, which should have been carried out in 2021). immunity for whistleblowers, including WADA and CHINADA employees, full access to all internal WADA and CHINADA emails, as well as raw laboratory data in China.
“All results, as well as the documents on which those results are based, must also be published,” USADA added.
Beijing has called reports of the affair “fake news”.
“The relevant reports are fake news and are not factual,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Monday.
