China’s swimming team has come under fire with star athlete Zhang Yufei under the microscope. The Olympics has faced many controversies in the short time since it began. This next story doesn’t beg to differ.
“The Butterfly Stroke Queen”
The Olympics in France has already had many ups and downs with various opinions and team support. The latest is China’s swim team member “doping controversy. Zhang Yufei, the “butterfly stroke queen,” as she’s known at home, has become the debate on everyone’s lips.
Not So Long Ago
It seems like just yesterday when the Chinese swimming team was faced with the same doping allegations where more than 9 athletes, including Yufei, were involved in the scandal – According to Time.
Is It Doping?
Based on previous tests, Zhang Yufei and others were allegedly suspected of doping. Zhang Yufei was one of the athletes who had previously tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs before the 2021 games.
Former Doping Allegations
It’s not the first time China’s been in a doping scandal, as the former swim team was reported to be doping at the Japanese Olympics in 2021. Test results prior months to the event, “more than half of the team’s” tests came back positive.
Chinese Anti-Doping Blames Food at Restaurant
At the Japanese Olympics, the Chinese swimming team was cleared by China’s Anti-Doping Association as “food contamination” at a restaurant. The WADA accepted the reasoning and excused the athletes from their test results.
More Positive “Doping” Tests
According to CNN, Chinese swimmers were again tested in 2022 and tested positive for the same substance as before the Japan Olympic games. The doping controversies began enraging some people.
Banned for Years
According to the UK Anti-Doping athletes can be banned for two to four years, and some even get a lifetime ban. The severity of the ban depends on circumstances like having “no significant fault” or “negligence.”
Multiple Offences
The UK Anti-Doping also says if an athlete is found multiple times to test positive for banned substances or multiple anabolic steroids in their system, the ban can carry on beyond the four-year mark.
Present Games
Swimmers like Pan Zhanle feel that the doping controversy lets competing swimmers look down on them. According to The Telegraph, he also reportedly admitted that he had taken “29 tests” last year and “never had a positive.”
First, the Greenlight
The Chinese members of the swimming team formerly accused of alleged doping at the 2024 games have been cleared by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
It’s in the Food
WADA said trace amounts of a band drug had contaminated the food sources at the hotel. Other athletes have also allegedly been tested and came up with similar results.
The Food Contamination?
According to a statement from WADA, food (contaminated meat) was the cause of the two Chinese swimmers testing positive for traces of a substance called “metandienone“.
Other Athletes Also Tested Positive
However, the WADA also noted the presence of other substances in athletes. WADA said a “BMX rider” and a “shooter” were also tested positive.
Public Trust Is Down
The consequences of the 2021 positive findings for Chinese “doping athletes” brought down the public’s trust in WADA, CNN reported.
Pledge for Fairness
World Aquatics has pledged to ensure athletes who previously tested positive for performance-enhancing substances would be tested more frequently than others.
Taking Gold and a World Record Win
Chinese male swimmer Pan Zhanle has won gold in the past event, breaking the world record in the men’s 100m freestyle event.
China’s Supporters Sympathise With Their Swimmers
Some supporters have posted comments in support of their country’s swimming team, saying that the “Chinese swimming team is unfairly treated.” This was a response to the team having undergone an alleged “200 tests” when they arrived in Paris.
Fear of Lack of Support – Stigma and Controversy
Zhang Yufei reportedly said in an interview with CNN that she felt “deeply worried” about being judged according to previous alleged doping test results. She was concerned that people could not see her in an unbiased light.
Suppression?
Others said it was echoes of China’s resilience and “ability to grow” even when “suppressed by the West,” another supporter added.
Disqualify Cheating Behaviour
The UK AD says it works hard to keep games fair and knows that doping athletes are not the majority. However, the majority of athletes are “clean” and “abide by the anti-doping” rules. At the same time, the UK AD also noted in their statement that they know some athletes cheat. The organisation works tirelessly to root out cheating athletes.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Franck Legros.