At Least Some Chinese Swimmers Reportedly Weren’t Notified of Positive Tests In 2021

By James Sutherland on SwimSwam

New evidence of the Chinese doping scandal that came to light in April indicates that at least three of the swimmers who tested positive were not informed, according to a report from European outlet Sportschau.

After the recent release of the documentary entitled “Doping Top Secret: China Files”, the ARD Doping Editorial Team reportedly received information from a source that at least some of the swimmers were not made aware of the positive tests that were taken in early 2021.

It would have been the responsibility of the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA), the body responsible for the test results, to have informed the athletes of the positive tests. Not doing so is a violation of anti-doping rules—as was the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) not reporting the positive tests when it was informed.

Sportschau reports that the ARD has a screenshot from Weibo, the Chinese social media platform, where Zhang Ruixuan wrote: “I am positive. Why didn’t I know about this?”

Zhang, a male breaststroker and one of the 23 swimmers who tested positive, has since deleted the post.

ARD also says at least two other swimmers were not notified of the positive tests.

After the positive tests came through to CHINADA, they were investigated by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, which approved the conclusion that they stemmed from mass food contamination. WADA then accepted the results of the investigation.

It is unknown whether WADA examined whether athletes may not have been informed of positive tests.

“If there is a doping finding as in this case, then the athlete must be informed immediately. In any case, there is a violation of the rules”, Thomas Summerer, President of the German Association for Sports Law, told the ARD Doping Editorial Team: “The swimming association must also be informed and the athlete must be able to comment.”

A source also told ARD that not all of the 23 swimmers were staying at the same hotel when they tested positive, which counters the conclusion reached by CHINADA and WADA that the positive tests were due to mass food contamination from one specific hotel.

Additionally, a source said “at least large parts” of the Chinese national swim team were stationed for long periods of time in Beijing in the weeks before the positive tests, training together at the National Sports Complex. The CHINADA report says that the swimmers had all been in their home provinces in the weeks leading up the competition where they tested positive.

The ARD Doping Editorial Team says it has screenshots indicating that “at least parts of the national team were literally barracked in the capital’s sports complex for a long time.”

“The athletes were not allowed to leave the grounds at times due to the Covid pandemic. These facts clearly contradict the allegations in the CHINADA report.”

WADA’s handling of the case was put under fire on Tuesday during a U.S. Congressional Hearing in Washington led by United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, with Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt both testifying.

WADA President Witold Banka issued his response on Wednesday, reiterating that the case is under review while also coming after USADA and its politicizing of anti-doping in America.

The independent review of the case’s handling by prosecutor Eric Cottier is expected to be published later this week.

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