When 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a prohibited drug yet were still allowed to participate in the Tokyo Olympics, the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) decided to conduct an independent inquiry.
Wada claimed they couldn’t refute Chinada’s claim that the swimmers’ positive test results for the heart drug trimetazidine (TMZ) were due to contamination.
An individual’s heart health may improve if they utilize TMZ before engaging in a physically demanding activity. Since this is a competitive sport, it would be unfair to use this substance. Over the years, TMZ usage has been detected in a small number of Olympians.
Within two months, the investigation’s findings will be revealed. Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier is leading the charge.
According to Wada President Witold Banka, the organization’s credibility and honor are being questioned. Wada has been unjustly accused of favoring China by choosing not to take the Chinada matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Wada claimed to be happy to have the opportunity to entrust these matters to a seasoned, esteemed, and impartial prosecutor and would continue to deny the baseless claims. Chinada said it would fully assist Wada’s audit.
According to Travis Tygart, chief executive of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Wada and Chinada had ignored these positive results. Wada denied the allegations, calling them untrue and defamatory, and stated it had taken legal action against the remarks.
At the Tokyo Olympics, the Chinese swimming team took home six medals, three of which were gold.
Following notification of Chinada’s judgment in June 2021—just before the postponed Games—Wada said that it lacked the proof necessary to contest China’s conclusions and that outside legal advice had recommended against pursuing an appeal.
Along with the independent probe, Wada has announced that it will dispatch a compliance audit team to evaluate the current status of China’s anti-doping program. The team will also invite independent auditors from the wider anti-doping community to accompany them.
On April 25th, Usada slammed Wada’s new move, referring to it as an exercise in protecting the system.
The claims regarding the positive tests have Aquatics GB very worried because they might lead to a decline in confidence in the sport and harm its brand.
