WADA stands by decision to allow Chinese swimmers to compete in Tokyo Olympics despite doping report – Firstpost

The world’s top anti-doping regulator said after reviewing a television documentary and newspaper reports that it stood by its decision to allow 23 Chinese swimmers to compete in the Tokyo Olympics despite testing positive for an anti-doping drug. forbidden heart.

The World Anti-Doping Agency issued a statement on Sunday following the broadcast of a documentary on the cases by German television. ARD.

In an earlier statement following initial media reports, WADA said it agreed with Chinese authorities and ruled that the swimmers’ samples had been contaminated.

THE New York Times reported that Chinese anti-doping authorities concluded the test results were adverse analytical findings, but cleared the swimmers without any penalty after finding the samples were flagged as positive due to contamination.

“Following WADA’s review of the documentary, the agency firmly stands by the results of its scientific investigation and legal decision regarding the matter,” WADA said in a statement Sunday. “We are also satisfied that WADA’s independent Intelligence and Investigations Department has followed up on all allegations received, which have not been corroborated by any evidence; and therefore did not meet WADA’s threshold to open an investigation.

The AMA stated that, based on the scientific evidence and information available, “which has been collated, evaluated and tested by experts in the pharmacology of trimetazidine (TMZ); and, per anti-doping experts, “there was no basis under the global anti-doping code to challenge the Chinese agency’s findings regarding environmental contamination.”

WADA said this position had also been accepted by World Aquatics, which governs international swimming.

WADA planned a news conference for Monday, announcing that its president, Witold Banka, and director general Olivier Niggli would be among the officials present to answer questions.

The 30-member Chinese swimming team won six medals in Tokyo, including three gold. Many athletes still compete for China and are expected to swim at the Paris Olympics this summer.

In its initial statement, WADA responded to what it called “misleading and potentially defamatory media coverage this week” and explained the process it undertook after learning of the positive tests.

The world drug control organization said it also received information from the US Anti-Doping Agency as early as 2020 – before this case arose – regarding allegations of a doping cover-up in China, but that USADA had never acted on evidence.

USADA CEO Travis Tygart called the news of Chinese positive tests “overwhelming.”

“It is even more devastating to learn that the World Anti-Doping Agency and the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency have, until now, secretly swept these positives under the rug by failing to fairly and uniformly comply with the global rules that apply. “apply to everyone in the world,” Tygart said.

The drug at the center of this case was also the one that led to the suspension of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

In this case, WADA quickly sanctioned Valieva after learning of her positive test.

The case highlights what many see as a flaw in the global anti-doping system: A country’s anti-doping organization is often the first line of defense in detecting drug-related cheaters and these organizations have varying levels of motivation to fulfill this role. role.