23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for illegal medications before the Tokyo Olympics.The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) revealed on April 20 that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance before to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. They tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ), a prescription cardiac medication that improves performance. The New York Times stated that some of the swimmers who tested positive won medals, including gold. WADA stated that they were alerted in June 2021 of the China Anti-Doping Agency's (CHINADA) decision to admit the swimmers despite their positive TMZ test in early 2021.The Chinese authorities explained that the swimmers were accidently exposed to the drug due to contamination. WADA then carefully analyzed the decision and sought specialists to determine whether the modest doses of TMZ would have affected the swimmer's performance. They came to the conclusion that the sportsmen had "no fault or negligence". "Ultimately, we concluded that there was no concrete basis to challenge the asserted contamination," said WADA Senior Director for Science and Medicine, Professor Oliver Rabin.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) revealed on April 20 that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance before to the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. They tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ), a prescription cardiac medication that improves performance. The New York Times stated that some of the swimmers who tested positive won medals, including gold. WADA stated that they were alerted in June 2021 of the China Anti-Doping Agency's (CHINADA) decision to admit the swimmers despite their positive TMZ test in early 2021.The Chinese authorities explained that the swimmers were accidently exposed to the drug due to contamination. WADA then carefully analyzed the decision and sought specialists to determine whether the modest doses of TMZ would have affected the swimmer's performance. They came to the conclusion that the sportsmen had "no fault or negligence". "Ultimately, we concluded that there was no concrete basis to challenge the asserted contamination," said WADA Senior Director for Science and Medicine, Professor Oliver Rabin.