Chinese swimmers at Tokyo Olympics won gold medals after testing positive for banned drug

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has admitted that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance months before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

The revelation, which has come to light after a joint investigation by the German TV channel ARD and the New York Times, has led to widespread criticism of WADA - which cleared the athletes to compete at the Games following an explanation from the Chinese authorities that the kitchen at their hotel was contaminated - from senior figures in anti-doping.

A statement for WADA on Saturday advised that it was notified in June 2021 of a decision by the China Anti-Doping Agency to accept that the swimmers had tested positive for trimetazidine, a heart medication, earlier in the year.

The statement reveals that the Chinese agency also informed WADA that the athletes had been inadvertently exposed to the substance through contamination.

Several of the Chinese swimmers went on to win medals in Tokyo - including three golds. Many of them, including the two-time gold medallist Zhang Yufei, are expected to challenge again at the Paris Olympics.

ARD and the New York Times said they had seen a 61-page investigative report from the Chinese anti-doping agency, Chinada, to WADA in 2021, which said that it had found trace elements of TMZ in the extractor fan, on spice containers and in the drain of a hotel kitchen in Shijiazhuang, where the swimmers had been staying.

Chinada also pointed to low concentrations of TMZ, a heart drug that improves performance, in the urine samples of the swimmers as grounds to conclude intentional doping was “impossible”.

According to the New York Times, it did not explain how a prescription drug available only in pill form had contaminated the kitchen.

WADA confirmed that it had not appealed against the decision to clear the Chinese swimmers after reviewing the evidence. It said it had not been possible for its scientists or investigators to conduct inquiries on the ground in China “given the extreme restrictions in place” due to a Covid-related lockdown.

It advised “WADA ultimately concluded that it was not in a position to disprove the possibility that contamination was the source of TMZ and it was compatible with the analytical data in the file.

“Wada also concluded that, given the specific circumstances of the asserted contamination, the athletes would be held to have no fault or negligence. As such, and based on the advice of external counsel, Wada considered that an appeal was not warranted.”

World Aquatics (formerly FINA), which is in charge of global swimming, also said it was confident the positive tests were handled “diligently and professionally”.

However, it has emerged the International Testing Agency and the US Anti-Doping Agency contacted WADA to express concerns about the way the Chinese test results were reported.

ARD said it had spoken to a whistleblower in China who told them: “The whole story about contamination is a fairytale to me. None of the officials’ explanations are credible.”

Meanwhile, the New York Times said it had spoken to five independent anti-doping experts who found the findings of the Chinese investigation “implausible”.

US Anti-Doping Chief Executive, Travis Tygart, who said he had provided WADA with several allegations of doping in Chinese swimming since 2020, was also critical of how the case had been handled.

Tygart advised “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.”

In a statement Chinada said it had provided WADA and FINA “all evidence, decisions and relevant files. Wada agreed with our conclusion after a thorough review.”

Swimming Australia announced today that it is conducting its “own inquiries”, with Chief Executive, Rob Woodhouse releasing a statement that advised “our expectations are high when it comes to advocating clean sport.

“Right now, we are 50 days out from our Olympic Trials and less than 100 days out from the Opening Ceremony - and we welcome the stringent testing our athletes face to ensure a level playing field.

“As an organisation we will always advocate for fairness and integrity, and we believe that all athletes deserve the right to earn success by their own hard work, effort, and dedication.

“Clean sport is about respect for your competitors. It’s about respect for yourself. It’s about respect for sport.

“At this stage we are making our own inquiries with World Aquatics, until we know more we aren’t in a position to comment further.”