WADA launches independent review of its decision to allow Chinese swimmers in Tokyo Olympics

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has decided to launch an independent review of its own decision to allow 23 Chinese swimmers to participate in Tokyo Olympics 2020. The swimmers were cleared to participate despite testing positive forbanned substances. The Chinese athletes were found to have trimetazidine (TMZ) in their blood samples months before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics which were delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

WADA, however, had allowed the swimmers to take part in the quadrennial event after a review and the report submitted by China Doping Agency (CHINADA).

"WADA's integrity and reputation is under attack," WADA president Witold Banka said in a statement on Thursday (Apr 25)."

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"In the past few days, WADA has been unfairly accused of bias in favor of China by not appealing the CHINADA case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. We continue to reject the false accusations and we are pleased to be able to put these questions into the hands of an experienced, respected and independent prosecutor," he added.

Earlier, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA ) had demanded an investigation into WADA's decision to allow the Chinese swimmers in Tokyo Olympics. The 30-member Chinese swimming contingent had won six medals at the Tokyo Olympics, which included three gold medals.

WADA director general Olivier Niggli also opined independent review: "While not one shred of evidence has been presented to support any of the allegations made against WADA, we wish to deal with the matter as quickly and as comprehensively as possible so that the matter is appropriately handled in advance of the upcoming Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Notably, CHINADA had ruled after an investigation that the swimmers who had tested positive were staying at the same hotel where traces of TMZ were found in the kitchen, the extraction unit above the hall and drainage units. China, however, offered no explanation on how the drug made its way to the hotel.