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Zhang Yufei Defends Chinese Swimmers Amid Doping Allegations
Zhang Yufei stands strong in support of Chinese swimmers facing doping allegations, emphasizing the importance of integrity in sports. Discover her insights and the broader implications for the swimming community.
Chinese Swimmer Zhang Yufei Defends Teammates Amid Doping Controversy
An Olympic swimming champion, Zhang Yufei, who was one of the 23 Chinese athletes embroiled in a doping scandal leading up to the last Summer Olympics, spoke out on Saturday, asserting that she and her teammates have been unjustly accused of using performance-enhancing drugs. Zhang emphasized that China has a strict policy against doping and would never permit any athlete to engage in such practices.
These remarks marked the first public response from a member of the Chinese swimming team concerning the ongoing controversy, which has sparked widespread anger and resentment as the Paris Olympics approach. “I don’t believe any athlete, regardless of nationality, would jeopardize their hard-earned achievements through doping,” Zhang stated following an impressive performance in a morning race on the opening day of the swimming competitions. She further noted that the Chinese government “also does not condone intentional doping.”
Zhang shared her thoughts during an interview conducted in Mandarin, which was subsequently translated into English.
In early 2021, Zhang and several teammates tested positive for a banned substance during a domestic competition. However, they were permitted to continue their athletic pursuits, including participation in the Olympics later that year, after a Chinese investigation concluded that the positive results were due to accidental contamination. Zhang ultimately shone at the Tokyo Olympic Games, securing four medals—two gold and two silver—and played a pivotal role in breaking a world record alongside her freestyle relay teammates.
On Saturday, Zhang reiterated the position held by Chinese authorities and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA): that the positive tests for the banned substance, trimetazidine—a medication typically prescribed for heart conditions—were attributed to food contamination traced back to a hotel kitchen. Despite the gravity of the situation, both Chinese officials and WADA opted not to penalize the swimmers, maintaining silence on the results, which should have been made public according to existing regulations at the time.