The world athletes’ organization announced different standards from WADA in the Valieva case and doping among Chinese swimmers

Global Athlete, an international body representing athletes around the world, said Chinese swimmers who tested positive in doping tests before the Tokyo Olympics should have been subject to provisional suspensions, noting that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had applied different standards. in the Russian situation. Kamila Valieva .

Earlier, the New York Times published an article that 23 Chinese swimmers had positive doping tests and trimetazidine was found in their bodies, for which Valieva was disqualified. The Chinese Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) recognized the athletes’ positive samples and conducted its own investigation. WADA decided not to pursue the Chinese swimmers, even though, according to the New York Times, it received information about their positive tests.

Global Athlete notes in the release that it wants to hear answers to some questions.

— Why were these twenty-three athletes not suspended pending the investigation?

— WADA maintains that it does not admit any fault or negligence in these cases. Why does this conclusion exempt the mandatory public disclosure of results?

— A small concentration of trimetazidine was found in the body of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva. Like CHINADA, RUSADA found no fault or negligence in this case, accepting Valieva’s explanation that her grandfather used the substance and that she accidentally ingested it. However, WADA vigorously appealed RUSADA’s decision, resulting in Valieva’s disqualification for 4 years. Why were these twenty-three athletes held to different standards?

— WADA claims to have offered to interview informants, but this proposal was not accepted. If the whistleblower claims that WADA hid positive test results, why did he agree to speak to WADA?

Global Athlete emphasizes that WADA must make public all evidence supporting its decision to close these cases, and that the evidence must be reviewed by an external body not affiliated with the agency.

“When the governing body does not respect and enforce the rules, athletes are victims of deception and lose the ability to succeed through their talent, hard work and perseverance. If the allegations are true, then WADA’s senior leadership has harmed current and future athletes, billions of fans, and the sports community as a whole.

If this is true, then WADA’s alleged actions also harmed individual participants in the Tokyo tournament. Athletes who tested positive should never have been allowed to compete. These athletes took away medals from their competitors, depriving them of a place on the Olympic podium as well as money from sponsors, the press release said.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) suspended Valieva for four years for violating anti-doping rules. The Russian’s suspension period begins on December 25, 2021 and her results have been canceled since that date.

The CAS decision led to a review of the results of the team figure skating tournament at the 2022 Olympics, where the Russian team won. First place is now awarded to the American team, the Japanese are second and the Russians will receive bronze. Valieva is also deprived of gold at the 2022 European Championship.