Chinese doping scandal arises in Olympic swimming competition

In Nanterre, France, another doping scandal involving Chinese swimmers has emerged during the Paris Games, causing frustration among some athletes who emphasize the importance of consistent enforcement of drug-testing regulations. The New York Times disclosed that two prominent Chinese swimmers, including one participating in this year’s Olympic team, were found to have tested positive for a banned steroid in 2022. Subsequently, Chinese authorities cleared them to compete, as reported by the Times without disclosing the sources of this information.
This incident marks the third in a series of reports over recent months highlighting Chinese athletes attributing positive drug tests to food contamination. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accepted the outcomes of the Chinese investigations. American swimmer Katie Ledecky expressed disappointment, questioning the integrity of the situation. Italian swimmer Simona Quadarella also voiced concerns about the efficacy of the testing system on a global scale.
Notably, prior cases involved 11 Chinese swimmers, out of 23 athletes, testing positive for a banned substance ahead of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Despite the positive tests, they were permitted to compete and subsequently claimed gold medals. Swimmer Zhang Yufei, one of those athletes, has garnered two bronze medals at the current Paris Games. Chinese swimmers in Paris have refuted doping allegations, asserting that they undergo more rigorous testing compared to athletes from other nations.
Rob Koehler, the general director of Global Athlete, criticized WADA’s handling of the situation, expressing doubts about the organization’s ability to uphold clean sport principles. WADA acknowledged that the two Chinese swimmers had tested positive for “trace amounts of a prohibited substance metandienone,” also known as D-Bol, resulting in provisional suspensions that were lifted after CHINADA, the Chinese anti-doping agency, closed the case in 2023 without determining a violation.
WADA raised concerns about cases being closed without sanctions, particularly focusing on contamination theories. Similar instances in the United States involving substances like trenbolone have also been highlighted. Travis Tygart, CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, condemned the failures of the global anti-doping system, overshadowing the spirit of unity that the Olympic movement aims to promote.
One of the swimmers implicated in the recent Times article is Tang Muhan, a member of the 4×200 freestyle relay team that secured gold and set a world record in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Tang, who is part of China’s Olympic team this year, could compete in the 4×200 relay event on Thursday.