Two top Chinese swimmers, one of whom was selected for the Paris Olympics team, were found to have tested positive for a banned substance in 2022. However, they were quietly cleared of doping by Chinese authorities towards the end of last year, as revealed by sources familiar with the situation. Following a thorough investigation, Chinese officials could not determine how the swimmers had ingested the banned drug, which was identified as a powerful anabolic steroid. They speculated that the swimmers may have unknowingly consumed the substance while eating hamburgers at a restaurant in Beijing.
The Chinese authorities explained to global antidoping regulators that only minimal traces of the steroid were detected, attributing it to contamination rather than intentional doping. This marked the third instance in recent years where China had blamed contaminated food for positive drug tests by top swimmers, a justification that was met with skepticism by many experts in the antidoping field.
Despite doubts from investigators and some experts, including those from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), China’s decision to exonerate the swimmers went unchallenged. The International Testing Agency also reviewed the case but did not recommend appealing China’s ruling. The swimmers involved were Tang Muhan, a prominent member of the relay team that secured gold at the previous Summer Olympics, and He Junyi, who was not part of this year’s Olympic squad.
The revelation of these positive tests comes on the heels of a previous report by The New York Times indicating that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for a banned substance prior to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. China had attributed these results to food contamination, a claim that had raised doubts among experts. Despite concerns, the World Anti-Doping Agency did not contest China’s decision, allowing the implicated swimmers to compete in the Tokyo Games.
The handling of these cases has sparked debate over the efficacy of antidoping measures and highlighted potential loopholes in enforcing regulations. While athletes are accountable for substances found in their system, the circumstances surrounding accidental ingestion can be complex to prove. The use of metandienone, an anabolic steroid detected in the 2022 tests, carries severe penalties, including lengthy bans from competition.
The ongoing scrutiny of China’s antidoping practices underscores broader concerns within the international sporting community about ensuring fair play and maintaining the integrity of competition. The outcomes of these cases could have far-reaching implications for future antidoping efforts and the credibility of elite sports competitions.