Doping in China
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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
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China was alleged to have conducted a state-sanctioned doping operation in the 1980s and 1990s by former General Administration of Sport physician Xue Yinxian.{{Cite web |title='They Have Ruined My Family' |url=https://projects.voanews.com/china/runners-without-borders/english/runners/xue-yinxian.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805140434/https://projects.voanews.com/china/runners-without-borders/english/runners/xue-yinxian.html |archive-date=5 August 2024 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=Voice of America |language=en}} The World Anti-Doping Agency investigated these allegations and found no evidence to corroborate them. Other allegations of doping have focused on swimmers{{Cite web |title=China's swimmers racing to escape country's doping past |author= |work=Reuters |date=19 July 2021 |access-date=3 August 2021 |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/swimming-chinas-swimmers-racing-escape-countrys-doping-past-2021-07-19/ |quote=China's swimming programme has seen its reputation tarnished by a series of scandals, most notably when one female swimmer was caught with 13 vials of human growth hormone at Sydney airport ahead of the 1998 world championships in Perth. |archive-date=19 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419221019/https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/swimming-chinas-swimmers-racing-escape-countrys-doping-past-2021-07-19/ |url-status=live }} and track and field athletes, such as those taught by Ma Junren (the Ma Family Army).{{Cite web |date=5 February 2016 |title=中国"马家军"昔日联名信曝光禁药丑闻 国际田联称将调查其真实性 |trans-title=China's "Ma Family Army" past joint letter exposes doping scandal, IAAF says it will investigate its authenticity |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/athletics-china-doping-idCNKCS0VF036 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419123345/https://www.reuters.com/article/athletics-china-doping-idCNKCS0VF036 |archive-date=19 April 2023 |access-date=3 August 2021 |work=Reuters}} In the Olympics, China has been stripped of a total of three gold medals for doping; all were weightlifters competing in the 2008 Summer Olympics.{{Cite web |title=3 Chinese weightlifters lose 2008 Olympic titles for doping |author= |work=Associated Press |date=12 January 2017 |access-date=3 August 2021 |url=https://apnews.com/article/f6f3f987f3bd4e45b67a957cc96089f3 |quote=for doping at their home 2008 Beijing Games |archive-date=27 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727000828/https://apnews.com/article/f6f3f987f3bd4e45b67a957cc96089f3 |url-status=live }} Eleven Chinese athletes were stripped of medals for doping at the 1994 Asian Games.{{Cite news |last=Longman |first=Jere |author-link=Jere Longman |date=18 December 1994 |title=Drug Sleuths' Surprise Produces a Breakthrough |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/18/sports/olympics-drug-sleuths-surprise-produces-a-breakthrough.html |access-date=5 September 2024 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=20 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420221310/https://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/18/sports/olympics-drug-sleuths-surprise-produces-a-breakthrough.html |url-status=live }}
China's doping has been attributed to a number of factors, such as the exchange of culture and technology with foreign countries. Some scholars believe that the country has become the focus of Western anti-doping condemnation in place of East Germany and other former Eastern Bloc countries.
History
= Chinese swimming performances in the 1990s =
The 1994 Hiroshima games saw seven Chinese swimmers along with a hurdler, a cyclist and two canoeists stripped of their medals after testing positive for the steroid dihydrotestosterone.{{Cite news |date=1994-12-04 |title=ASIAN GAMES |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1994/12/05/asian-games/f35c7834-97eb-4a01-890c-b271534cd83a/ |access-date=2024-08-03 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en}}{{cite book |author=Jennings |first=Andrew |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_DGIQAAACAAJ |title=The New Lords of the Rings: Olympic Corruption and How to Buy Gold Medals |publisher=Pocket Books |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-671-85571-0 |pages=233 |accessdate=31 July 2012}} In response, Chinese officials in March 1995 handed 1 year bans to nine coaches for doping in the Hiroshima games. FINA and the Olympic Council of Asia noted in the same month that there was not enough evidence to say organised doping was occurring in China, but the former said more testing was needed.{{Cite news |date=31 March 1995 |title=China bans nine coaches over drugs |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/china-bans-nine-coaches-over-drugs-1613771.html |work=The Independent |access-date=29 August 2024 |archive-date=7 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807064024/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/china-bans-nine-coaches-over-drugs-1613771.html |url-status=live }}
FINA, swimming's governing body, said Wang Wei of China's men's team and Wang Luna, Cai Huijue and Zhang Yi of the women's team tested positive for the banned diuretic triamterene and were immediately suspended at the 1998 World Aquatics Championships in Perth, Australia. Yuan Yuan, a swimmer caught by Australian customs on 8 January with human growth hormones in her suitcase, was given a four-year suspension. Coach Zhou Zhewen, who said he put the drugs in the suitcase, was banned for 15 years, although FINA said it would review his case after 10 years. IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch said drug use by Chinese athletes had hurt that country's hopes of holding the Summer Games. Meanwhile, the Chinese Swimming Association said it was deeply shocked by the positive drug tests and would impose "serious punishment" on those involved.{{cite news|title=4 Chinese Swimmers Suspended for Drugs|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jan-15-sp-8667-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times|date=15 January 1998|access-date=7 August 2024|archive-date=7 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807034243/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jan-15-sp-8667-story.html|url-status=live}} Following an investigation into China the next month, the International Swimming Federation rejected allegations that the country had a national doping programme.{{cite book |author=Jinxia Dong |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UC2cSAnrm8MC&pg=PT152 |title=Women, Sport, and Society in Modern China: Holding Up More Than Half the Sky |publisher=Psychology Press |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-7146-5235-1 |pages=151–152 |quote=Indeed, based on an investigation in China in February 1998, the International Swimming Federation rejected the assumption that China had a national drug-taking programme. |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240812070319/https://books.google.ca/books?id=UC2cSAnrm8MC&pg=PT151&redir_esc=y%23v=onepage&q&f=false |archive-date=12 August 2024 |url-status=live}}
As a result of the 1990s swimming scandals, the record-breaking performance of Chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen in the 2012 Olympics drew doping suspicions fuelled by BBC presenter Clare Balding, American Swimming Coaches Association executive director John Leonard, and The Guardian.{{Cite news |last=Mike Collett-White and Alan Baldwin |date=July 31, 2012 |title=Unease, anger as Chinese swimmer fights doping doubts |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/sports/unease-anger-as-chinese-swimmer-fights-doping-doubts-idUSBRE86U11W/ |work=Reuters}} Several past Olympic champions also defended Ye, including former British swimmer Adrian Moorhouse who said: "I understand it’s about China’s system. But we saw the Chinese swimmers in the 1990s. They were the size of houses. They looked like they had huge muscle growth. This girl is quite small… she’s just in good shape."{{Cite web |date=31 July 2012 |title=Sporting greats swim to Ye Shiwen's defence |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2012/7/31/sporting-greats-swim-to-ye-shiwens-defence |website=Al Jazeera |language=en |quote=“I think it’s quite insulting actually...I understand it’s about China’s system. But we saw the Chinese swimmers in the 1990s. They were the size of houses. They looked like they had huge muscle growth. This girl is quite small… she’s just in good shape.”}}{{Cite news |date=2012-07-31 |title=China swimmer Ye Shiwen 'clean' says Olympic chief |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/china-swimmer-ye-shiwen-clean-says-olympic-chief/28776254.html |access-date=2024-08-29 |work=Belfast Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=7 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807064024/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/china-swimmer-ye-shiwen-clean-says-olympic-chief/28776254.html |url-status=live }}
= Ma Junren and his ''Ma Family Army'' =
In February 2016, Tencent Sports reported a letter written in 1995 by Wang Junxia and nine other track athletes, who claimed that women coached by Ma Junren were forced to take "large doses of illegal drugs over the years".{{cite web|title=独家-王军霞领衔举报马家军强迫使用兴奋剂|url=http://sports.qq.com/a/20160203/002010.htm|website=Tencent Sports|access-date=27 July 2017|archive-date=1 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701110715/http://sports.qq.com/a/20160203/002010.htm|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title='We took drugs': Chinese athletes confess to doping in secret letter |last=Armitage |first=Catherine |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=6 February 2016 |access-date=3 August 2021 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/athletics/we-took-drugs-chinese-athletes-confess-to-doping-in-secret-letter-20160206-gmn8jk.html |archive-date=3 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210803062114/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/athletics/we-took-drugs-chinese-athletes-confess-to-doping-in-secret-letter-20160206-gmn8jk.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Tatlow |first=Didi Kirsten |date=2016-02-24 |title=Doping Claims Involving Chinese Track Stars Re-emerge, Decades Later |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/25/world/asia/china-olympics-doping-ma-junren.html |access-date=2024-08-15 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=11 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911204905/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/25/world/asia/china-olympics-doping-ma-junren.html |url-status=live }} According to Reuters and former State General Administration of Sports Director General Yuan Weimin, Ma and six of his runners were dropped from the 2000 Summer Olympics because they were tested positive for doping.{{Cite web |date=2006-08-25 |title=Chinese seized EPO, testoterone, steroids at school |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/news/story?id=2560820 |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=ESPN |language=en |quote=Just before the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, however, Ma and six of his runners were dropped from the team when blood tests revealed abnormal results. |agency=Reuters |archive-date=3 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803074446/https://www.espn.com/olympics/news/story?id=2560820 |url-status=live }}
The International Association of Athletics Federations confirmed they had launched a probe into the claims and asked the Chinese Athletics Association to assist it in verifying whether the letter is genuine.{{Cite news |last1=Bloom |first1=Ben |date=25 February 2016 |title=Athletics world records blow as Wang Junxia 'admits' being part of Chinese state-sponsored doping regime |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2016/02/25/athletics-world-records-blow-as-wang-junxia-admits-being-part-of/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813090824/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/athletics/2016/02/25/athletics-world-records-blow-as-wang-junxia-admits-being-part-of/ |archive-date=13 August 2016 |access-date=13 August 2016 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph}} An official from the Chinese Athletics Association declined to comment to Reuters on the matter.
= Xue Yinxian allegations =
Systematic doping of Chinese athletes in Olympic Games (and other international sport events) was alleged by former Chinese doctor Xue Yinxian as early as 2012. She claimed that more than 10,000 athletes in China were doping systematically in the 1980s and 1990s but admitted in 2024 that she did not personally witness any wrongdoing. The Chinese government denied involvement in systematic doping, claiming that athletes who doped did so individually. Xue said she was persecuted by the Chinese government for her allegations and had to seek asylum in Germany, which was granted in 2017.{{Cite web |date=October 21, 2017 |title=Systematic doping of Chinese athletes in Olympic Games revealed by former doctor |url=https://www.dw.com/en/systematic-doping-of-chinese-athletes-in-olympic-games-revealed-by-former-doctor/a-41065227 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729125416/https://www.dw.com/en/systematic-doping-of-chinese-athletes-in-olympic-games-revealed-by-former-doctor/a-41065227 |archive-date=29 July 2021 |access-date=23 April 2024 |website=Deutsche Welle}}{{Cite news |last=Ingle |first=Sean |date=2017-10-23 |title=Wada is accused of sitting on mass China doping claims for five years |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/oct/23/wada-china-doping-allegations-xue-yinxian |access-date=2024-08-15 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=23 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723061305/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/oct/23/wada-china-doping-allegations-xue-yinxian |url-status=live }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1073710/china-to-make-doping-a-criminal-offencechina-to-make-doping-a-criminal-offence-and-warns-athletes-who-test-positive-could-be-sent-to-prison|title=China to make doping a criminal offence and warns athletes who test positive could be sent to prison|date=29 December 2018 |access-date=23 April 2024|archive-date=29 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229161003/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1073710/china-to-make-doping-a-criminal-offencechina-to-make-doping-a-criminal-offence-and-warns-athletes-who-test-positive-could-be-sent-to-prison|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |date=24 October 2017 |title=WADA to investigate claims of systematic doping in China |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-doping-china-idUSKBN1CT09Y |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723091820/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-doping-china-idUSKBN1CT09Y |archive-date=23 July 2021 |access-date=23 April 2024 |newspaper=Reuters}}{{Cite magazine |date=24 October 2017 |title=Former doctor reveals more than 10,000 Chinese athletes were doping |url=https://www.si.com/olympics/2017/10/24/chinese-doping-scandal-1980s-1990s-ard-broadcast |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723060835/https://www.si.com/olympics/2017/10/24/chinese-doping-scandal-1980s-1990s-ard-broadcast |archive-date=23 July 2021 |access-date=23 April 2024 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}} The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said there is insufficient evidence to substantiate Xue's allegation of a large-scale doping scheme in the 1980s and the 1990s. As for samples retained from 2008, 2012, and 2016, WADA re-tested them but found no corroborating evidence.{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Holly |last2=Kiniry |first2=Leigh |date=25 July 2024 |title=Inside the high-stakes dispute between the U.S. and global anti-doping agencies over China's Olympic swimmers |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wada-us-china-doping-olymipcs-swimmers/ |access-date=8 September 2024 |work=CBS News |archive-date=28 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728133840/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wada-us-china-doping-olymipcs-swimmers/ |url-status=live }}
= Trimetazidine revelations in swimming =
{{Further|World Anti-Doping Agency#Chinese doping allegations}}
23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for the banned medication trimetazidine (TMZ) at the Shijiazhuang Chinese Long Course Invitational from 31 December 2020 to 3 January 2021, but the results were treated as caused by kitchen contamination of beef noodles without being made public.{{Cite web |last=Pells |first=Eddie |date=2024-11-22 |title=Noodles and wine are the secret ingredients for a strange new twist in China's doping saga |url=https://apnews.com/article/doping-china-noodles-wada-2f463f8a50ac3b7e70e1991451941bc1 |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=Associated Press |language=en}} The story was first reported on 20 April 2024 by The New York Times and German broadcaster ARD.{{Cite news |last1=Schmidt |first1=Michael S. |last2=Panja |first2=Tariq |date=2024-04-20 |title=Top Chinese Swimmers Tested Positive for Banned Drug, Then Won Olympic Gold |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/20/world/asia/chinese-swimmers-doping-olympics.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710123345/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/20/world/asia/chinese-swimmers-doping-olympics.html |archive-date=10 July 2024 |access-date=2024-07-04 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} After delays owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) logged the 60 urine samples - of which 28 were positive - into WADA's Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS) at the WADA-accredited laboratory in Beijing on or around 15 March 2021.{{Cite web |title=WADA Contamination case of swimmers from China Fact Sheet |url=https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/2024-04/2024-04_fact_sheet_faq_chinese_swimming.pdf |access-date=11 July 2024 |archive-date=11 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711014247/https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/2024-04/2024-04_fact_sheet_faq_chinese_swimming.pdf |url-status=live }} Per The New York Times, an email on this date from a CHINADA legal official requested a "counterpart at the world swimming association" to "keep athletes’ information and the case strictly confidential until it is publicly disclosed by CHINADA." Of the 23, 13 competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics seven months later where several of them, such as Zhang Yufei and Wang Shun, received medals.{{Cite web |last=Mebus |first=Hajo Seppelt, Nick Butler, Lea Löffler und Jörg |title=Recherche der ARD-Dopingredaktion: "Die Akte China" - Fragen und Antworten |url=https://www.sportschau.de/investigativ/die-akte-china-fragen-und-antworten,wada-china-massendoping-faq-102.html |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=sportschau.de |language=de |archive-date=10 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510215318/https://www.sportschau.de/investigativ/die-akte-china-fragen-und-antworten,wada-china-massendoping-faq-102.html |url-status=live }} The New York Times reported that WADA did not refer the positive tests to its Intelligence and Investigations (I&I) Department.{{Cite news |last1=Panja |first1=Tariq |last2=Schmidt |first2=MIchael S. |date=December 3, 2024 |title=Antidoping Agency Froze Out Investigators Who Warned About China |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/03/us/politics/wada-china-doping-olympics.html |access-date=December 4, 2024 |work=The New York Times |quote=In a statement, WADA confirmed that it had walled off its investigative unit from dealing with the positive tests for TMZ among the Chinese swimmers. The agency said that decision was warranted because “a thorough legal and scientific review of the facts, including by external legal counsel,” showed “no basis to challenge the contamination explanation” offered by the Chinese.}} The matter is widely censored in China.{{Cite news |last=Pierson |first=David |date=2024-07-03 |title=An Uproar Over a Chinese Doping Case, Except in China |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/03/world/asia/china-doping-censorship.html |access-date=2024-07-10 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=10 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710060105/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/03/world/asia/china-doping-censorship.html |url-status=live }}
In 2022, the International Testing Agency (ITA) raised issues with WADA regarding a possible misreporting of the TMZ samples. WADA I&I subsequently reviewed these issues and "concluded that proper procedures had been followed and that there was no evidence of wrongdoing." The New York Times states that the ITA's review of the case is ongoing.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for banned substance before 2021 Olympics: WADA |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/chinese-swimmers-trimetazidine-positive-tests-before-olympics/story?id=109463142 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710123345/https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/chinese-swimmers-trimetazidine-positive-tests-before-olympics/story?id=109463142 |archive-date=10 July 2024 |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=ABC News |language=en}}
On 23 April 2024, ARD released a documentary, "The China File",{{Cite web |last=Mebus |first=Hajo Seppelt, Nick Butler, Lea Löffler und Jörg |title="Die Akte China": Massendoping-Verdacht in China - WADA handelt nicht |url=https://www.sportschau.de/investigativ/massendoping-verdacht-in-china-wada-handelt-nicht,wada-china-massendoping-100.html |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=sportschau.de |language=de |archive-date=14 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614233407/https://www.sportschau.de/investigativ/massendoping-verdacht-in-china-wada-handelt-nicht,wada-china-massendoping-100.html |url-status=live }} where USADA's CEO Travis Tygart suggests of a "cover-up" by WADA and Fritz Sörgel, a toxicologist and pharmacologist, deems the contamination explanations to be "implausible". In separate statements, Tygart once again criticised WADA of its handling of the positive tests and said TMZ "doesn't magically appear, fairy dust in a kitchen."{{cite news |last1=Bogan |first1=Ray |title=Michael Phelps wants dopers banned ahead of Paris Olympics |url=https://san.com/cc/michael-phelps-wants-dopers-banned-ahead-of-paris-olympics/ |work=Straight Arrow News |date=26 June 2024}} WADA said some of the swimmers had been tested on two to three occasions on consecutive days and the results were not compatible with deliberate ingestion or micro-dosing.
USADA, along with the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Rahul Gupta, called for an independent investigation into the matter.{{Cite news |last1=Schmidt |first1=Michael S. |last2=Panja |first2=Tariq |date=2024-04-22 |title=Top Biden Official Calls for Inquiry Into Chinese Doping Case |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/22/world/asia/doping-china-swimmers-olympics.html |access-date=2024-08-18 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=9 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909153816/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/22/world/asia/doping-china-swimmers-olympics.html |url-status=live }} In a statement on 25 April 2024, WADA responded to these allegations by appointing Swiss attorney Eric Cottier as an independent investigator to review its handling of the case.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-25 |title=Anti-doping watchdog asks Swiss prosecutor to review its handling of Chinese Olympic swimming case |url=https://apnews.com/article/wada-doping-china-swimmers-207315ea4ee2eea90c7708655afcc1b0 |access-date=2024-08-18 |website=Associated Press |language=en |archive-date=9 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909153906/https://apnews.com/article/wada-doping-china-swimmers-207315ea4ee2eea90c7708655afcc1b0 |url-status=live }} USADA called the appointment "self-serving."
On July 9, Eric Cottier concluded that WADA did not mishandle the Chinese swimmers' doping case or show bias. His interim report stated, "There is nothing in the file... to suggest that WADA showed favouritism or in any way favoured the 23 swimmers who tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) between January 1 and 3, 2021." He also found no evidence of "interference or meddling" from within WADA, Chinada, or Chinese authorities. Cottier stated Wada's decision not to appeal against Chinada's conclusion was "reasonable, both from the point of view of the facts and the applicable rules".{{Cite web |date=2024-07-09 |title=Wada did not show bias in Chinese swimmers doping case, says investigation |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/swimming/articles/c0kr1pg8g47o |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB |archive-date=26 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240826190556/https://www.bbc.com/sport/swimming/articles/c0kr1pg8g47o |url-status=live }}
In July 2024, World Aquatics, which also found no wrongdoing on the part of Chinese swimmers after its own investigations,{{Cite web |last=Keating |first=Steve |date=16 July 2024 |title=World Aquatics did not mishandle Chinese doping cases, confirms audit |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/olympics/world-aquatics-did-not-mishandle-chinese-doping-cases-confirms-audit-2024-07-15/ |access-date=9 September 2024 |website=Reuters}} confirmed that its executive director was subpoenaed to testify to U.S. authorities as part of a criminal investigation into the Chinese swimmers' doping tests.{{Cite web |last1=Dunbar |first1=Graham |last2=Pells |first2=Eddie |date=2024-07-04 |title=World swimming federation confirms US federal investigation into Chinese swimmers' doping tests |url=https://apnews.com/article/china-doping-swimming-paris-olympics-world-aquatics-d55b6c2853e2d7a79cefa68afe51f9bf |access-date=2024-07-04 |website=Associated Press |language=en |archive-date=6 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706024507/https://apnews.com/article/china-doping-swimming-paris-olympics-world-aquatics-d55b6c2853e2d7a79cefa68afe51f9bf |url-status=live }} It was reported in July 2024 that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) opened an investigation into whether the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) did not adequately investigate the doping case involving Chinese swimmers.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-25 |title=What is WADA, why is the FBI investigating it and why is it feuding with US anti-doping officials? |url=https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-paris-doping-wada-rodchenkov-7064e60d0ad23a9df92dbd94d6c89593 |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=5 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805103226/https://apnews.com/article/olympics-2024-paris-doping-wada-rodchenkov-7064e60d0ad23a9df92dbd94d6c89593 |url-status=live }} Between January and July 2024, Chinese swimmers were tested 21 times in average by anti-doping agencies, compared to four to six times for Australian and U.S. swimmers respectively.{{cite news |last1=Sutherland |first1=James |title=World Aquatics Releases Doping Test Data Prior To Paris; Chinese Swimmers Tested 20+ Times |url=https://swimswam.com/world-aquatics-releases-doping-test-data-prior-to-paris-chinese-swimmers-tested-20-times/ |work=SwimSwam |date=25 July 2024}}
In September 2024, Cottier released his final report noting that some rules were not followed by CHINADA but this did not affect the "acceptance of the contamination hypothesis". The report said WADA did not show favouritism but its administrative processes could be strengthened. The findings largely matched Cottier's June interim report.{{cite news |title=Final report clears WADA over China swimmers who failed dope tests |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20240913-final-report-clears-wada-over-china-swimmers-who-failed-dope-tests |work=France 24 |date=13 September 2024 |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Pells |first=Eddie |date=2024-09-12 |title=Lawyer says Chinese doping case handled 'reasonably' but calls WADA's lack of action "curious" |url=https://apnews.com/article/olympics-china-doping-swimming-7d9319078e69870595050657382ffc60 |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=Associated Press |language=en |archive-date=13 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913130216/https://apnews.com/article/olympics-china-doping-swimming-7d9319078e69870595050657382ffc60 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=September 12, 2024 |title=Report Concludes China Broke Rules in Doping Case but Clears WADA |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/12/world/europe/wada-china-doping.html |access-date=September 12, 2024 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=12 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240912203050/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/12/world/europe/wada-china-doping.html/ |url-status=live }}
Disqualified medalists
Listed below are athletes who have had their medals being stripped due to doping violations.
=Olympic Games=
{{main|Doping at the Olympic Games|2008 Summer Olympics medal table|List of stripped Olympic medals}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;" | ||||
| Medal
! Name ! Sport ! Event ! Date | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bgcolor=pink | ||||
| bgcolor=pink
| {{gold medal}} | Chen Xiexia | Weightlifting | Women's 48 kg | {{dts|9 August 2008}} |
| bgcolor=pink
| {{gold medal}} | Liu Chunhong | Weightlifting | Women's 69 kg | {{dts|13 August 2008}} |
| bgcolor=pink
| {{gold medal}} | Cao Lei | Weightlifting | Women's 75 kg | {{dts|15 August 2008}} |
=Asian Games=
{{main|Doping at the Asian Games}}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%;"
!width="160"|Name !width="130"|NOC !width="110"|Sport !width="150"|Banned substance !width="180"|Medals !width="20"|Ref |
| bgcolor=pink
|{{flagIOC2|CHN|1994 Asian Games}} |{{Gold1}} (Women's 400 m hurdles) |
| bgcolor=pink
|{{flagIOC2|CHN|1994 Asian Games}} |{{Gold1}} (Men's C-1 500 m) |{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/chinese-hand-out-long-bans-1390360.html|title=Chinese hand out long bans|date=21 December 1994|work=The Independent|accessdate=14 April 2013|archive-date=11 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811061019/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/chinese-hand-out-long-bans-1390360.html|url-status=live}} |
| bgcolor=pink
|{{flagIOC2|CHN|1994 Asian Games}} |{{Silver2}} (Men's C-2 1000 m) |
| bgcolor=pink
|{{flagIOC2|CHN|1994 Asian Games}} |{{Gold1}} (Women's sprint) |
| bgcolor=pink
|{{flagIOC2|CHN|1994 Asian Games}} |{{Bronze3}} (Men's 400 m individual medley) |
| bgcolor=pink
|{{flagIOC2|CHN|1994 Asian Games}} |{{Gold1}} (Men's 50 m freestyle) |
| bgcolor=pink
|{{flagIOC2|CHN|1994 Asian Games}} |{{Gold1}} (Women's 50 m freestyle) |{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19941208&id=eR9OAAAAIBAJ&pg=6714,3484803|title=China ban seven swimmers for two years|date=8 December 1994|publisher=New Straits Times|accessdate=14 April 2013|archive-date=22 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722041225/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1309&dat=19941208&id=eR9OAAAAIBAJ&pg=6714,3484803|url-status=live}} |
| bgcolor=pink
|{{flagIOC2|CHN|1994 Asian Games}} |{{Gold1}} (Men's 200 m freestyle) |
| bgcolor=pink
|{{flagIOC2|CHN|1994 Asian Games}} |{{Silver2}} (Women's 400 m freestyle) |
| bgcolor=pink
|{{flagIOC2|CHN|1994 Asian Games}} |{{Gold1}} (Men's 200 m butterfly) |
| bgcolor=pink
|{{flagIOC2|CHN|1994 Asian Games}} |{{Gold1}} (Women's 400 m freestyle) |
Individual Chinese doping cases
- Yang Aihua – testosterone{{cite book|author1=Wayne Wilson|author2=Ed Derse|title=Doping in Elite Sport: The Politics of Drugs in the Olympic Movement|url=https://archive.org/details/dopinginelitespo00wils|url-access=registration|year=2001|publisher=Human Kinetics|isbn=978-0-7360-0329-2|page=[https://archive.org/details/dopinginelitespo00wils/page/102 102]}}
- Wu Yanyan – anabolic steroids{{cite news |date=18 July 2000 |title=Disgraced Wu banned |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19038114 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729161839/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19038114 |archive-date=29 July 2012 |accessdate=29 July 2012 |work=BBC News}}
- Li Zhesi – erythropoietin (EPO){{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2012-06-09 |title=China's Li Zhesi Tests Positive for EPO |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/chinas-li-zhesi-tests-positive-for-epo/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Swimming World News |language=en-US |archive-date=17 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220817221515/https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/chinas-li-zhesi-tests-positive-for-epo/ |url-status=live }}
- Ouyang Kunpeng{{cite web |date=27 June 2008 |title=China's top backstroke specialist banned for doping |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/swimming/news/story?id=3463204 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107080538/http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/swimming/news/story?id=3463204 |archive-date=7 November 2012 |accessdate=29 July 2012 |website=ESPN |publisher=}}
- Chen Xinyi – hydrochlorothiazide{{cite news |date=14 August 2016 |title=Chinese Swimmer Tests Positive, 2 Others Kicked Out of Rio for Doping |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/swimmer-chen-xinyi-of-china-tests-positive-at-rio-olympics/2002183/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726071821/https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/swimmer-chen-xinyi-of-china-tests-positive-at-rio-olympics/2002183/ |archive-date=26 July 2022 |accessdate=17 February 2021 |work=WRC-TV |publisher=}}
- Ye Qiaobo{{Cite web|author=Hersh, Phil|title=Chinese Skater: Medal, No Shame|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/02/11/chinese-skater-medal-no-shame/|work=Chicago Tribune|language=en-us|date=11 February 1992|access-date=23 April 2024|archive-date=27 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227074155/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1992-02-11/sports/9201130666_1_doping-world-sprint-championships-ye-qiaobo|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=China: Alles erlaubt|url=http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-13689634.html|work=Der Spiegel|language=de|date=3 August 1992|access-date=23 April 2024|archive-date=26 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026052235/http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-13689634.html|url-status=live}}
- Wang Xiuli
Reactions
Jinxia Dong, an associate professor at Peking University, said that the doping programme was a by-product of the "open door" policy which saw the rapid expansion within China of modern cultural and technological exchanges with foreign countries.{{cite book |author=Jinxia Dong |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UC2cSAnrm8MC&pg=PA153 |title=Women, Sport, and Society in Modern China: Holding Up More Than Half the Sky |publisher=Psychology Press |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-7146-5235-1 |pages=153– |accessdate=30 July 2012}} Former East German swim coaches admitted to systematic doping on their athletes; among them, coach Klaus Rudolf played a significant role in developing China's swimming programme.{{Cite web |title=Discontent Refuses to Wilt |last1=Hersh |first1=Philip |last2=Writer |first2=Tribune Olympic Sports |work=Chicago Tribune |date=5 September 1994 |access-date=4 August 2021 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1994-09-05-9409050140-story.html |archive-date=23 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423014130/https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/09/05/discontent-refuses-to-wilt/ |url-status=live }}
Bioethicist Maxwell J. Mehlman in his 2009 book The Price of Perfection, states that "In effect China has replaced East Germany as the target of Western condemnation of state-sponsored doping".{{cite book |author=Maxwell J. Mehlman |url=https://archive.org/details/priceofperfectio0000mehl |title=The Price of Perfection: Individualism and Society in the Era of Biomedical Enhancement |date=21 May 2009 |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |isbn=978-0-8018-9263-9 |page=[https://archive.org/details/priceofperfectio0000mehl/page/134 134] |quote=In effect, China has replaced East Germany as the target of Western condemnation of state-sponsored doping. |url-access=registration |accessdate=31 July 2012}}{{rp|134}} Mehlman quotes an anthropologist as saying that "When China became a 'world sports power', American journalists found it all too easy to slip China into the slot of the 'Big Red Machine' formally occupied by Soviet Bloc teams".{{rp|134}}