Chinese swimmer Liu Zixuan had an adverse analytical finding of an a sample at the Chinese National Games in early September, the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) announced on Friday.
At the 2017 World Championships, Zixuan swam the 2nd leg of China’s silver-medal winning women’s 800 free relay, where she split 1:56.34 – the 3rd-best of 4 swims for the squad.
At 17-years old, Zixuan is actually a relative-veteran on that Chinese relay, which has two swimmers born in the year 2002. This test result is unlikely to impact China’s result at the World Championships, as doping punishments don’t usually impact swims that occur prior to the swim.
Liu’s positive test came on September 4th, when she tested positive for a diuretic hydrochlorothiazide. CHINADA has provisionally suspended Liu as of the date of notice of the A Sample, and her results from the meet have been nullified. The National Games Organizing Committee also cancelled a sports ethics award given to her team.
While diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide don’t themselves provide any performance enhancement, they can be used to mask the presence of other substances in doping tests.
Zixuan finished 2nd individually in the women’s 200 free at the meet in 1:57.01. She was also a member of the winning 400 free relay, 6th in the 400 free (4:11.38), and 13th in the 100 free (56.01).
Three athletes had positive tests at the multi-sport National Games, including wrestler Duan Ning and Yang Xinli. All three requested a test of the “B” samples to verify the result. The National Games are a premier event domestically, with high visibility and rewards for successful athletes.
China should be stripped of that 4×200 medal and the bronze should be awarded to Russia accordingly.
What a shock! Who would have thought?
Doping can (and does) occur anywhere, regardless of nationality. In some nations, the national federations may encourage it (or look the other way with varying degrees of indifference), but as Lance Armstrong demonstrated, individuals and or their personal coaches/trainers may engage in doping even if it is discouraged at the federation level. It may be a trainer for a team (or some other individual with a financial interest in a particular athlete’s success) and not the coach who offers it to individuals they believe to have interest.
Why am I not surprised?
The news here is that it came at a Chinese national meet. Could they be changing and policing their own? Could it be a ruse to make it look like they are policing? Has any other Chinese national meet caught a Chinese doper?
China is changing… Not only in swimming, but in everything else. Although the corruption still exists, off course,, as it does in any other developing country, things are changing for better. Companies and government are taking big steps to fight corruption. China has plans to eradicate poverty in next 3 years, reduce pollution and fight corruption. If they succeed in these goals, watch out – that country is going to run the world. I tried doing business in China 10 years ago and run out with intention never to go back. Now, I am opening office there next month. I believe you will see less and less doping in swimming in China, because they do not need swimming and athletics… Read more »
China has been coming down hard on swimmers who have been caught doping for years now. It’s not a new thing. It hasn’t been a huge problem with them since the 90’s. Here and there people get caught just like any other country.
Doping in China is said to be pressured by coaches, parents etc. Has to be stopped
So doping in other countries is self-motivated?
LOL! As if doping weren’t an American problem too. Or any other country’s for that matter.
USA Kings and Queens of dope, only never caught because of corruption and cover ups!
Which is why every good runner ever from USA got caught doping.
The only reason Lance Armstrong was caught was because of the US Anti Doping Acency’s persistence.
Because he was actually doping. People knew he was doping.
No disagreement here