China to cooperate with independent investigation into how 23 swimmers tested positive for banned substance and competed at Tokyo Olympics
- Wada said on Thursday it would launch an independent review led by Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier
- Compliance audit team also being sent to China to assess the nation’s anti-doping programme
China indicated on Friday it will cooperate with an independent investigation into the events that led to 23 Chinese swimmers avoiding sanctions after testing positive for a banned substance months before the Tokyo Olympics.
Wada said it would also send a compliance audit team to China to assess the nation’s anti-doping programme and invite independent auditors to join the mission.
“Chinada (China Anti-Doping Agency) will actively cooperate with the coming audit by Wada, and provide assistance where needed,” Chinada said in a statement.
“We noted that Wada has invited an independent prosecutor from Switzerland to review its handling of the no-fault contamination case involving 23 swimmers from China, which is a clear demonstration of fairness, openness and transparency of Wada.”
Calls for an independent investigation have grown since The New York Times reported 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ), a medication that increases blood flow to the heart and is used to treat angina.
The swimmers were cleared by a Chinese investigation which said they were inadvertently exposed to the drug through contamination. The report determined the swimmers were staying at a hotel where traces of TMZ were discovered in the kitchen.
“In the whole investigation process, Chinada kept Wada and the Federation Internationale de Natation (Fina, now known as World Aquatics) informed of the relevant progress, and submitted the evidence from [their] investigation, [and the] decisions made by Chinada and the full case files,” Chinada said. “Conclusions from the investigation and the decision were accepted by both Wada and Fina.”
“These organisations and media have held misconceptions, made misjudgments and released inappropriate reports and announcements,” Chinada said. “The information they have published is clearly contrary to the basic facts.
The independent investigation launched by Wada is not without support.
Although USADA had harsh words for Wada, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) on Thursday called the investigation an important first step.
“Every athlete in America and around the world deserves competition that is transparent, fair, and free from doping,” ONDCP director Rahul Gupta said in a statement.
“While this is an important step in the right direction, we will continue to work with our partners and government leaders across the globe to ensure fair competition for every athlete heading into the Paris Olympics and beyond.”
