U.S. Investigation Into Chinese Swimmers’ Doping Case
The international swimming federation announced that its executive director, Brent Nowicki, has been ordered to testify as a witness in a U.S. criminal investigation concerning 23 Chinese swimmers who failed doping tests in 2021 but were still allowed to compete. This news emerges just weeks before the Paris Olympics, where 11 of these swimmers are expected to compete.
The swimmers, who tested positive for a banned heart medication, were cleared to compete following Chinese authorities’ explanation of food contamination, a decision not challenged by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This led to the swimmers winning three gold medals at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.
The U.S. House Committee on China requested an investigation under a federal law that allows probes into suspected doping conspiracies, even outside the U.S. The investigation is potentially the highest-profile use of the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, passed in 2020 in response to the Russian state-backed doping scandal.
The swimmers, including Olympic gold medalists Zhang Yufei and Wang Shun, were found positive for trimetazidine. Chinese authorities attributed the contamination to a hotel kitchen where the team stayed, a theory accepted by WADA. The agency defended its decision, citing travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic that hindered independent investigation.
This scandal has sparked significant concerns, with accusations of it being a state-sponsored strategy by China, akin to Russia’s previous actions. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency highlighted the potential impact on international sports officials traveling to the U.S., fearing interrogation by the FBI.
WADA’s handling of the case has drawn criticism, including from athletes like Michael Phelps, who expressed distrust in WADA’s ability to uphold fair sports. The ongoing investigation and a pending review by a former public prosecutor appointed by WADA aim to shed further light on the situation.
The case underscores the broader implications of doping in sports, especially with upcoming major events like the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games and the anticipated 2034 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.