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Twenty-three Chinese swimmers are reported to have been involved in a doping case after they tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug just seven months before the 2021 Olympic games in Tokyo. Among the 23 swimmers was two-time gold medalist Zhang Yufei, also in contention for the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024.
United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) chief Travis Tygart slammed the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for mishandling its powers in this case and has also accused the global body of not taking action against the Chinese swimmers even after being aware of the incident.
Moreover, American officials and other doping experts have also stated that the accused swimmers should have been suspended or publicly identified. In a statement to the Times, USADA stated:
"This appears to be a devastating stab in the back of clean athletes and a deep betrayal of all the athletes who compete fairly and follow the rules. All of those with dirty hands in burying these positives and suppressing the voices of courageous whistle-blowers must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the rules and law."
However, WADA released a statement against this on Saturday stating that USADA, especially Tygart's statements, are absolutely false and baseless. On the other hand, the China Anti-Doping Agency (Chinada) has also spoken out against the accusation on its swimmers.
Chinada's investigation reports on this case suggest that small traces of trimetazidine (a drug that causes greater blood flow to the heart and was banned by the WADA back in 2014) were found in the Chinese swimmers. Small amounts of the substance were also found in the kitchen of the hotel where the swimmers had resided during a swimming meet just two months after the swimmers tested positive.
Olympic gold medalist Lilly King reacts to the Chinese Doping Case
Several swimmers have reacted after the incident came to light. Among them is two-time Olympic gold medalist Lilly King.
King, who is currently a part of the International Swimming League team Cali Condors, has supported USADA's statements which called this incident an act of betrayal. The Indiana native shared a screenshot of USADA chief Travis Tygart's statement with the caption:
"No words. Complete heartbreak for our clean athletes and frustration in the system that has failed them."'
Besides King, various other swimmers from the US circuit such as 2020 Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist (breaststroke) Annie Lazor and silver medalist in 4*200m freestyle during the 2020 Olympics, Paige Madden, have also reacted sharply to the incident.
