Chinese Swimmers Test Positive For Banned Substance, Win Olympic Gold Anyway While WADA Looks Other Way

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirmed on Saturday that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for a banned substance before the Tokyo Olympics. But WADA let it slide after China claimed the positive results were a result of accidental contamination.

Multiple reports said the swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine months before the COVID-delayed Games began in July 2021. Typically found in heart medication, trimetazidine is listed as a "metabolic modulator," which can help with endurance in physical activity.

(Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports)

CHINADA, China's anti-doping agency, said the swimmers tested positive after inadvertently being exposed to the drug through contamination. WADA had the authority to appeal CHINADA's decision but, instead, decided to accept these findings and allowed the Chinese athletes to compete anyway.

"WADA ultimately concluded that it was not in a position to disprove the possibility that contamination was the source of TMZ, and it was compatible with the analytical data in the file," WADA said in a statement. "WADA also concluded that ... the athletes would be held to have no fault or negligence. As such, and based on the advice of external counsel, WADA considered an appeal was not warranted."

China's 30-member swimming team took home six medals at the Tokyo Games, including three golds.

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According to The New York Times, World Aquatics — swimming's international governing body — was also notified of the positive samples. World Aquatics (then called FINA) agreed the results of the tests were caused by contamination and did not sanction any of the athletes who tested positive.

"World Aquatics is confident that these AAFs were handled diligently and professionally, and in accordance with all applicable anti-doping regulations, including the World Anti-Doping Code," the organization said in a statement.

(Photo by Ding Xu/Xinhua via Getty Images)

But Travis Tygart, CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, is not so sure.

"This appears to be a devastating stab in the back of clean athletes and a deep betrayal of all the athletes who compete fairly and follow the rules," Tygart said. "All of those with dirty hands in burying these positives and suppressing the voices of courageous whistle-blowers must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the rules and law."

Tygert says he has provided WADA with doping allegations against Chinese swimming multiple times since 2020.