Independent prosecutor concludes WADA showed no bias in Chinese swimmers’ case

Independent prosecutor Eric Cottier presented an interim report on the Chinese swimmers’ case at an extraordinary meeting of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) executive committee, the newspaper reported. website AMA.

In April, the New York Times reported that trimetazidine had been found in samples taken from 23 Chinese swimmers ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. According to the publication, the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) conducted its own investigation, after which it announced that the substance had unintentionally entered the athletes’ bodies in small amounts. A joint investigation by the organization and Chinese police revealed that traces of the substance had been found in the kitchen of the hotel where the Chinese swimmers were staying. WADA was unable to refute the Chinese version and did not punish the athletes.

The AMA later announced that it had invited Cottier to conduct a “thorough review” of his own work on the case.

“Nothing in the documents provided suggests that WADA showed any favouritism towards Chinese swimmers after the positive doping test results were revealed. The prosecutor found no evidence indicating any interference in WADA’s work by any organisation or institution, including CHINADA or the Chinese authorities.

“The investigation found no wrongdoing by WADA in its review of Chinada’s decision: the review was detailed and covered all issues relevant to determining whether the decision should be appealed. The decision not to appeal was reasonable both in fact and in terms of the applicable rules,” the agency said in a statement.

WADA President Witold Banka stressed that Cottier had access to all data related to the case.

“Now that an independent prosecutor has confirmed that there were no violations in WADA’s work, the agency will consider what measures can be taken against those who made false and potentially defamatory accusations.” These allegations have caused enormous damage to WADA’s reputation, as well as to the trust that athletes and other stakeholders have in the agency and the global anti-doping system. WADA has been subjected to manipulation and attempts to create the impression that normal cooperation with the Chinese side as a global regulator is somehow biased in favor of China, Banka added.

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