Swimming Australia and Sport Integrity Australia welcome WADA investigation into Chinese doping

Sport Integrity Australia and Swimming Australia have welcomed the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) appointment of a special prosecutor to review the handling of swimming contamination matter by Chinese swimmers in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics.

Advising that his organisation welcomed the independent review of the positive drug tests, Swimming Australia Chief Executive, Rob Woodhouse stated “we welcome the news that WADA has launched its own independent review of how these positive doping tests of Chinese swimmers were handled.

“While findings of this review will not be delivered for two months, Swimming Australia has additionally called for assurances and clarity from WADA around their processes performed in handling this case to restore faith in the global anti-doping system.

"Swimming Australia is committed to clean sport and the strict enforcement of anti-doping rules - to be applied equitably - to maintain a level playing field without exception.

"Transparency and trust are the corner stones of the anti-doping system, and we hope the Independent Review provides further clarity on the processes involved in this instance."

Woodhouse added “we are not alleging any wrongdoing but we are calling for transparency and, like the rest of the sports world, we await the findings.”

Sport Integrity Australia also released a statement welcoming WADA’s appointment of a special prosecutor noting that Chief Executive David Sharpe had called on WADA to initiate an independent review of the regulatory framework and processes applied.

The statement advised that Sharpe hoped this review will provide clarity and ensure faith is maintained in the global anti-doping system in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics and Paralympics.

In the wake of revelations publish last weekend by the New York Times and German broadcaster ARD, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has led the call for an independent investigation, along with an overhaul of WADA to restore confidence in the global body ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.