Chinese swimmers to undergo increased drug testing ahead of Paris Olympics
In response to recent doping controversies, Chinese swimmers participating in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games will face drug testing at twice the standard rate, authorities announced.
This decision follows revelations that 23 Chinese swimmers, who tested positive for a banned substance, were allowed to compete in the Tokyo Games.
Among the 23 athletes who tested positive for the heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ) during a training camp seven months before the 2021 Tokyo Games, 11 have been selected for Paris.
The global swimming governing body, World Aquatics, acknowledged that the trust in the anti-doping system has been “weakened” due to the handling of the situation.
To restore confidence, the International Testing Agency (ITA) has pledged to conduct eight tests on Chinese athletes from the start of 2024 until the Paris Olympics, doubling the usual number of tests.
Furthermore, during this 2024 Paris Olympics efforts will be made to ensure that these tests are conducted by authorities other than the China Anti-Doping Agency (Chinada) and analyzed outside of China.
World Aquatics aims to reassure athletes amid criticisms from figures like Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history, who has expressed distrust in the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada). US anti-doping authorities have also criticized Wada, which has responded with threats of legal action against its detractors.
Despite the criticisms, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has expressed “full confidence” in Wada and called on sporting agencies to show “respect” for the anti-doping body.
