By W. G. S. D. Wijesinghe, Jadetimes news
Chinese swimmers competing in the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris will face twice the standard drug testing frequency compared to some other nations.
This decision follows recent scrutiny of doping authorities after it was revealed that 23 swimmers who tested positive for a banned substance were allowed to compete in the Tokyo Games. Among these, 11 swimmers had tested positive for the heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ) at a training camp seven months prior to the postponed 2021 Games and are now selected for Paris.
In reviewing the decision to clear these 23 swimmers, the governing body World Aquatics acknowledged that trust in the anti doping system had been "weakened" by the situation's handling.
To address these concerns, the International Testing Agency (ITA) has pledged to test Chinese athletes eight times, which is double the standard frequency, between the start of 2024 and the beginning of the Paris Games. Additionally, there will be "best efforts" to ensure that these tests are conducted by an authority other than the China Anti Doping Agency (Chinada) and analyzed outside of China.
World Aquatics aims to reassure athletes amid criticism from Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, who has expressed distrust in the World Anti Doping Agency (Wada)'s ability to enforce its policies. US anti doping authorities have also been critical of Wada, which has threatened legal action against its detractors.
Despite these criticisms, the International Olympic Committee has expressed "full confidence" in Wada and urged sporting agencies to show "respect" for the anti doping body.
