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HONG KONG: With China’s swimming team under intense scrutiny over its record on doping at the Paris Olympics, a senior official at China’s sports ministry has called for careful management of food, medicine and nutritional supplements to ensure there are no “mistakes”.
Liu Guoyong, deputy director of the General Administration of Sport of China, said anti-doping work was crucial and urged Chinese athletes to “earn respect through strength and integrity,” China Daily reported on Wednesday (August 21).
The Chinese swimming team has faced increasing scrutiny since news broke in April that 23 swimmers tested positive for banned heart drugs in 2021 but were still allowed to compete in that year’s Tokyo Olympics.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accepted the findings of a Chinese investigation that the match result was caused by contamination from the hotel kitchen, while an independent review also backed WADA’s handling of the case.
“We must be cautious, especially in the management of food, medicine and nutritional products,” Liu Zhijun told a meeting of Chinese Paralympic athletes ahead of the Aug. 28-September 8 Paris Paralympics.
“We have to ensure that any incidents of accidental consumption are nipped in the bud and that no mistakes are made.”
Liu said athletes may have to face issues beyond performance and technical preparation, as well as “unique challenges, including interference and disruption from Western countries at the upcoming Paris Olympics.”
Pan Zhanle, who won the 100m freestyle gold medal in a world record-breaking event in Paris, said he underwent more than 20 doping tests between May and July before the Olympics.
Chinese President Xi Jinping China’s Olympic delegation maintained high standards of “morality, conduct and integrity” as it competes for gold medals at the Paris Games on Tuesday.
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