After yesterday’s controversial accusations by The Times concerning alleged systematic doping within the Russian swimming organization, news is coming out today about positive drug tests by Chinese swimmers.
The China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) says that there have been 6 recent positive tests for banned substances by Chinese swimmers. Three positive tests were for clenbuterol dating back to late August/early September, while there were 3 positive tests in January of this year.
The athletes involved in the 2015 failed tests will soon be issued punishments by the Chinese Swimming Federation and the results will then be made known publicly, although no specific timenframe has yet been revealed.
For the additional 3 from this year, the situations remain under investigation and will be publicised within 20 days of punishments having been issued, as in accordance with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) regulations. Zhao Jian, Deputy Director of CHINADA says that WADA has been kept informed about all of the positive tests
In Thursday’s The Times, claims are made that these Chinese results were ‘concealed and covered-up’, an accusation which CHINADA denies. Whisleblowers within the article also accuse swimming coach Zhou Ming of working with swimmers in Tianjin, even though Ming was banned for life in 1998 for his involvement in a prior doping scheme.
“People in Chinese swimming really want WADA to ask for the truth to be told,” a whistleblower told The Times. “Our pools are awash with rumours of bad things. There’s a lot of fear.”
Sun Yang, 2012 Olympic gold medalist and multiple World Champion served a 3-month ban after having failed a doping test back in 2014. The management of his punishment came under fire at the time, as no mention of his suspension was made prior to or during that year’s Asian Games and CHINADA has yet to explain why it didn’t immediately announce Sun Yang’s suspension.
The truth that China is cheating and it is fairly systemic throughout their whole swim team. Us is not cheating other than maybe an occasional athlete who cheats on their own but it is not within the system 2 cheats. Look at the number of Chinese athletes who have been caught doing steroids and then look at the fact that the u.s. is not anywhere near that top of the charts in any category regarding cheating. The US athletes don’t feel it’s worth it to keep and losing Integrity of the sport and plus I know they will be caught. The Chinese athletes who have cheated and now we’re competing such as a guy who won the 200 deserve to… Read more »
China cheats
Interesting article on the rarity with which Chinese swimmers get tested, even when training in Australia and out from behind the murky curtain of how they are handled in China.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/olympic-training-squad-fed-up-with-sharing-pool-with-rival-chinese-swimmers/news-story/f87698391f61a7e745b747eda064e36b
That link goes to a firewall. My bad. I stumbled on the article (not firewalled) when I googled “china olympic swim team”. It was about the 7th-8th article down the list.
CHINADA’s delayed reporting of the “backdated” Sun Yang suspension certainly makes that organization look unreliable. However, WADA has plenty of problems of it’s own.
Here’s a nice piece from PRI’s “The World” about the structure of WADA, and the built-in conflicts of interest and lack of accountability resulting from that structure. Worth the 5-minute listen.
http://www.pri.org/stories/2016-06-17/how-can-olympics-help-rid-sports-its-drug-addiction
Just make it practice, upon showing up to every competition, every swimmer will be tested (Arena Pro Series, Nationals, Olympic Trials, Worlds, Pan Pacs
College championships etc)
Since the 70’s and perhaps before, there have always been athletes cheating, and there always will be. What amazes me is that people still get caught, state sponsored or not. I suggest that everyone reads about micro dosing. You can find step by step guides on how to do this, and get away with it. Drug testing needs to take place 24×7, not just during daytime hours.
I think it is time for FINA to ban China and the Russian swimming federation for a year. And put them on probation afterwards. Any positive tests within a year of the bans end. Then automatic 5 year suspension
But why should you ban every swimmer from Russia and China some don’t take them so why should they get banned for their team mates wrong choices
You ban every swimmer when the national swim federation of the country in question is suspect. The concern with China and Russia isn’t that this-or-that individual swimmer is doping. The concern, rather, is systemic doping by those countries’ swim programs. Sure, some individuals may be clean. But when the suspicion lands at an institutional level, then you ban that whole national federation. This is what IAAF just did to Russia’s track & field. FINA ought to take similar bans under consideration.
Agree with enough! Are we really surprised by this? When are they going to really get serious about cheaters? First offense = suspension second offense = ban! And for countries with repeat offenders – ban the entire country from the games! How on earth are honest athletes suppose to compete with these cheats? And I also would strongly recommend drug testing at the college level from what I have seen and beyond! Just saying…..
They do test in college…
Obviously both countries have problems. I don’t see what the big deal is to ban them from a couple international swim meets if they are shown to not handle their doping problems the same as the rest of the world. They can still compete within their country. I also think more work should be done to uncover the doctors and trainers that assist the swimmers with doping. .One thing they could offer is an agreement to the swimmer to reduce the length of the ban if the swimmer can testify against the doctors and coaches involved in the doping. They could also reach out to some swimmers that have a positive test and subsequently retire. After a few years out… Read more »
so that you can easily claim gold? mmm,fear is always the best tactic
Really? Why ban China, Russia only? Ban every country who has any swimmers coming out with positive test? US has quite a number too. Your logic is stupid
Just check on this news on Chinese website.
Funny thing is the comments below, they(not swimming fans not sport fans, they just HATERS) didn’t say a word about their athletes, 90% of them accuse US athletes, especially Katie and Missy.
I know Chinese, I check on Chinese website a lot, these kind of comments(comments about Katie didn’t change a bit in four years) really make me ANGRY!
Harsh talks about her appearance are even more unacceptable!
In these two years, accuse of Katie at English website are getting fewer.
Because her performance is stable and step by step we can see(or maybe we all care about this sport more than those haters).
Friends at… Read more »
Look at them. Kathy and Missy has suspiciously similar and strange for women appearence.
They looks like male athlets