The Australian press first wrote about it on Saturday, and since then more and more details have been revealed. The fact is clear: the 23 Chinese swimmers were exposed to trimetazidine in 2020, which, for example, Kamila Valieva he is also a figure skater at the Beijing Olympics. Among other things, this drug increases endurance and the efficiency of blood supply, and was originally used as a prescription heart drug.
Those concerned, however, are subject to the International Swimming Federation (World Aquatics) and the International Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) with his agreement, the Chinese anti-doping authority not only did not ban him, but released him without any sanctions, on the grounds that the samples were found to be contaminated.
Olivier Rabin According to Prof. WADA’s medical director, the relevant WADA department reviewed the case before the Tokyo Olympics and gathered more information about the contamination. “In the end, we concluded that there was no concrete basis to question contaminationRabin said, adding that the 23 swimmers had low concentrations of trimetazidine, probably ingested through food, and that many of them presented multiple samples over several days that fluctuated between negative and positive.
Since the 30-member Chinese swimming team won six medals in Tokyo, including three golds, and most of the 23 competitors are still active today and preparing for the Paris Games, the matter cannot be simply swept under the table. The original Australian article did not mention specific names, but The New York Times found out that the protagonist of all three gold medals, the Olympic champion with the 200 meter butterfly and the 4×200 relay Zhang Yufei, as well as the men’s 200 medley winner, memorably bowing to László Cseh after the final Wang Shun his name is also among those affected.
According to the article, many of China’s top swimmers stayed at the same hotel for a four-day meet in the last days of 2020 and the first days of 2021 in Shijiazhuang. Two months after the tests came back positive, Chinese investigators found traces of trimetazidine in this hotel’s kitchen, sink drain and stove vent.
The Chinese Anti-Doping Agency, the Chinada According to a 61-page test report compiled by , a total of 60 tests were performed on 39 swimmers, and these urine samples yielded 28 positive results from 23 competitors. The fact that only low concentrations were detected in the samples could also mean that the trimetazidine excretion process was already in its last phase in their bodies.
Zhang Yufei celebrates after her 200m butterfly final at the Tokyo Olympics
Photo: Getty Images
According to most experts, the swimmers should have been suspended immediately or publicly identified pending further investigation, and this is always a joint responsibility of World Aquatics and WADA to manage. It is said that there are several e-mails and audio recordings – for example, in the hands of American and German sports leaders – which indicate that the Chinese systematically doped.
Among other things, he played a leading role in the Lance Armstrong doping case Travis Tygartthe head of the American anti-doping agency, also spoke on the matter.
“This seems like a stab in the back to clean athletes and betrays those who compete fairly and abide by the rules. I know how WADA has covered up the Chinese cases several times since 2020. Those who have their dirty hands in all of this, and those who suppress the voices of brave advocates should be held accountable to the full extent of the rules and laws.”
According to the news, American swimmers have been notified that the cancellation of the Chinese results from the Tokyo Olympics may be on the agenda, which could change the final results of many competitions. Among them, the aforementioned women’s 4×200 relay, where the Americans would advance to first place, the Hungarian relay (Zsuzsanna Jakabos, Laura Veres, Ajna Késely, Boglárka Kapás) would be sixth instead of seventh. The fate of the women’s 200-meter butterfly is also a question, since if Zhang Yufei were to be disqualified, then Regan Smith and Hali Flickinger behind him, Kapás would jump to the third step of the podium, i.e. he would receive a bronze medal.
While WADA defends itself by saying that it acted properly in the case and communicated properly, several stars of the international swimming field reacted to the news.
“Who really benefits from the lack of transparency and secrecy? What about strict liability? This is all so disappointing from WADA” he said Adam Peatywhose biggest opponent is the world champion in the 50, 100 and 200 meters breast Qin Haiyang is also on the doping list.
“Ban them all and never let them compete again! Return the gold medal to Slam immediately” – written by James Guyhinting that he is listening to the nickname Slam Duncan Scott placed second behind Wang Shun in the 200 medley.
The Australian is the defending Olympic champion in the 200 breaststroke Zac Stubblety-Cook would like to believe that WADA is right.
“It all depends on WADA and how the system works. I’m an athlete, so I have to trust the system.”
Member of the American women’s 4×200 relay, Allison Schmitt came out in a harsh message on his Instagram page.
“It saddens me that the Olympic movement and the purity of competition are pushed into the background because of money and politics. Not only as an Olympic medalist, but also as a person, I am disappointed by the lack of fair play and decency. I remember that our team directly requested that after the Olympics do a doping test on us to make sure we’re all clean.”
One thing is certain: the case will continue…
Tags: doping scandal Hungarian Olympic swimming medal tempers running high
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