The Chinese swimming team was dominant at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021, winning six medals at the Tokyo Games, including three golds. But a recent report has revealed that 23 different Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance but were allowed to compete and avoid public scrutiny anyway.
This week, the New York Times revealed that 23 different Chinese swimmers tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ). But the World Anti-Doping Agency allowed the swimmers to compete anyway, accepting an explanation from China that the swimmers had ingested the drug accidentally.
U.S. Anti-Doping Agency Chief Executive Officer Travis T. Tygart expressed his outrage at the whole process from the WADA.
“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,” Tygart told the New York Times. “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.”
Tygart also acknowledged that he has provided WADA with allegations of doping against Chinese swimming multiple times since 2020.
It’s clear that the United States is not happy that this played out this way.
