<p>Twenty-three Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 but were allowed to compete after world governing bodies secretly accepted China's findings that they had ingested it unknowingly, The New York Times said Saturday.</p>

<p>The athletes included nearly half of the swimming team that China sent to Japan, with several going on to win medals, including gold, according to the report.</p>

<p>Many are expected to be in contention again at the Paris Olympics this summer.</p>

<p>The newspaper reported that they tested positive for a prescription heart drug that can enhance performance at a domestic meet in late 2020 and the first days of 2021.</p>

<p>But it was determined by Chinese anti-doping authorities that they ingested the substance unwittingly from tainted food and no action against them was warranted.</p>

<p>The Times cited a review of confidential documents and emails, including a report compiled by the Chinese anti-doping agency and submitted to its global counterpart WADA.</p>

<p>It said WADA and swimming's governing body World Aquatics, which at the time was known as FINA, decided not to act due to "a lack of any credible evidence" to challenge China's version of events.</p>

<p>WADA was not immediately available for comment to AFP but told the Times it opted against pursuing the matter further after "consulting scientists and external legal counsel".</p>

<p>"Ultimately, we concluded that there was no concrete basis to challenge the asserted contamination," said WADA's senior director of science and medicine Olivier Rabin.</p>

<p>World Aquatics confirmed to the Times the cases had been reviewed by a doping control board and were subjected to independent expert scrutiny.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ioc-chief-bach-backs-ai-to-identify-talented-athletes-in-every-corner-of-the-world-as-paris-games-looms-713222">IOC chief Bach backs AI to identify talented athletes ‘in every corner of the world’ as Paris Games looms</a></strong></p>

<p>"World Aquatics is confident that these AAFs (adverse analytical findings) were handled diligently and professionally, and in accordance with all applicable anti-doping regulations, including the World Anti-Doping Code," it said.</p>

<p>But the United States Anti-Doping Agency said the swimmers should have been suspended and publicly identified, calling WADA's lack of action "a devastating stab in the back of clean athletes".</p>

<p>The organisation's chief executive Travis T. Tygart claimed he had provided WADA with allegations of doping in Chinese swimming multiple times since 2020.</p>

<p>China's anti-doping authority was not immediately available for comment.</p>

<p>There was no immediate reply from China's swimming association when contacted for comment.</p>

<p>Chinese swimming has a chequered doping history, with a rash of cases throughout the 1990s. Seven Chinese swimmers tested positive for steroids at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima.</p>

<p>In 1998, swimmer Yuan Yuan was banned after Australian customs officers discovered a large stash of human growth hormone in her bags at the World Championships in Perth.</p>

<p>More recently, three-time Olympic champion Sun Yang was banned for doping, ruling him out of the Tokyo Olympics.</p>


Twenty-three Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 but were allowed to compete after world governing bodies secretly accepted China's findings that they had ingested it unknowingly, The New York Times said Saturday.

Twenty-three Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 but were allowed to compete after world governing bodies secretly accepted China's findings that they had ingested it unknowingly, The New York Times said Saturday. The athletes included nearly half of the swimming team that China sent to Japan, with several going on to win medals, including gold, according to the report. Many are expected to be in contention again at the Paris Olympics this summer. The newspaper reported that they tested positive for a prescription heart drug that can enhance performance at a domestic meet in late 2020 and the first days of 2021. But it was determined by Chinese anti-doping authorities that they ingested the substance unwittingly from tainted food and no action against them was warranted. The Times cited a review of confidential documents and emails, including a report compiled by the Chinese anti-doping agency and submitted to its global counterpart WADA. It said WADA and swimming's governing body World Aquatics, which at the time was known as FINA, decided not to act due to "a lack of any credible evidence" to challenge China's version of events. WADA was not immediately available for comment to AFP but told the Times it opted against pursuing the matter further after "consulting scientists and external legal counsel". "Ultimately, we concluded that there was no concrete basis to challenge the asserted contamination," said WADA's senior director of science and medicine Olivier Rabin. World Aquatics confirmed to the Times the cases had been reviewed by a doping control board and were subjected to independent expert scrutiny. ALSO READ: IOC chief Bach backs AI to identify talented athletes ‘in every corner of the world’ as Paris Games looms "World Aquatics is confident that these AAFs (adverse analytical findings) were handled diligently and professionally, and in accordance with all applicable anti-doping regulations, including the World Anti-Doping Code," it said. But the United States Anti-Doping Agency said the swimmers should have been suspended and publicly identified, calling WADA's lack of action "a devastating stab in the back of clean athletes". The organisation's chief executive Travis T. Tygart claimed he had provided WADA with allegations of doping in Chinese swimming multiple times since 2020. China's anti-doping authority was not immediately available for comment. There was no immediate reply from China's swimming association when contacted for comment. Chinese swimming has a chequered doping history, with a rash of cases throughout the 1990s. Seven Chinese swimmers tested positive for steroids at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima. In 1998, swimmer Yuan Yuan was banned after Australian customs officers discovered a large stash of human growth hormone in her bags at the World Championships in Perth. More recently, three-time Olympic champion Sun Yang was banned for doping, ruling him out of the Tokyo Olympics.

23 Chinese swimmers competed at Tokyo Games despite failing doping tests – Reports

<p>Lady Gaga's fans were surprised when they saw her doppleganger competing at the Tokyo Olympics.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Julyana Al-Dadeq who is representing Jordan in the taekwondo event bears striking resemblance to the singer. Photos of her from the event went viral on Monday with fans pointing out the similarities between Julyana and Gaga.&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">this is Lady Gaga at the Tokyo Olympics and no one can convince me otherwise <a href="https://t.co/Qw8aOCmCrh">pic.twitter.com/Qw8aOCmCrh</a></p>
— gaga ♡ (@thegagasource_) <a href="https://twitter.com/thegagasource_/status/1419699499476393984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>Gaga's fans, whom she lovingly calls as 'Little Monsters' went gaga for the doppelgänger, who was knocked out of the women’s 67kg category in the round of 16 by Brazil’s Milena Titoneli.<br />
<br />
Fans hilariously tweeted that how Gaga is done with Grammys and Oscars- and is now eyeing an Olympic medal as they shared images of Julyana Al-Dadeq.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Have a look at some of the tweets&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Why is Lady Gaga at the Olympics <a href="https://t.co/DMvSOHCGyn">pic.twitter.com/DMvSOHCGyn</a></p>
— Gaga Daily (@gagadaily) <a href="https://twitter.com/gagadaily/status/1419553818543542275?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Wtf 😭☠️ Lady Gaga in the Olympics we're so proud of you!! you made it 😭😭☠️☠️ <a href="https://t.co/cwvnlUN41y">pic.twitter.com/cwvnlUN41y</a></p>
— itlog🐣 (@itloggaga) <a href="https://twitter.com/itloggaga/status/1419515263188291584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">There can be a hundred people at the olympics and one of them is Lady Gaga competing for a taekwondo medal. <a href="https://t.co/B90HsaKtLu">pic.twitter.com/B90HsaKtLu</a></p>
— Rickie Marsden (@BeardManRick) <a href="https://twitter.com/BeardManRick/status/1419592174841249793?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">lady gaga said "f*ck grammys and oscars, i want a gold olympic medal now" <a href="https://t.co/ufyB85cmOm">pic.twitter.com/ufyB85cmOm</a></p>
— pedro (@hausofmalamente) <a href="https://twitter.com/hausofmalamente/status/1419498699202482181?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


Lady Gaga's fans were surprised when they saw her doppleganger competing at the Tokyo Olympics. Julyana Al-Dadeq who is representing Jordan in the taekwondo event bears striking resemblance to the singer.

Lady Gaga's fans were surprised when they saw her doppleganger competing at the Tokyo Olympics. Julyana Al-Dadeq who is representing Jordan in the taekwondo event bears striking resemblance to the singer. Photos of her from the event went viral on Monday with fans pointing out the similarities between Julyana and Gaga. this is Lady Gaga at the Tokyo Olympics and no one can convince me otherwise pic.twitter.com/Qw8aOCmCrh — gaga ♡ (@thegagasource_) July 26, 2021 × Gaga's fans, whom she lovingly calls as 'Little Monsters' went gaga for the doppelgänger, who was knocked out of the women’s 67kg category in the round of 16 by Brazil’s Milena Titoneli. Fans hilariously tweeted that how Gaga is done with Grammys and Oscars- and is now eyeing an Olympic medal as they shared images of Julyana Al-Dadeq. Have a look at some of the tweets Why is Lady Gaga at the Olympics pic.twitter.com/DMvSOHCGyn — Gaga Daily (@gagadaily) July 26, 2021 × Wtf 😭☠️ Lady Gaga in the Olympics we're so proud of you!! you made it 😭😭☠️☠️ pic.twitter.com/cwvnlUN41y — itlog🐣 (@itloggaga) July 26, 2021 × There can be a hundred people at the olympics and one of them is Lady Gaga competing for a taekwondo medal. pic.twitter.com/B90HsaKtLu — Rickie Marsden (@BeardManRick) July 26, 2021 × lady gaga said "f*ck grammys and oscars, i want a gold olympic medal now" pic.twitter.com/ufyB85cmOm — pedro (@hausofmalamente) July 26, 2021 ×

Fans are convinced that Lady Gaga is participating at the Tokyo Olympics. Here's why

<p>Japan on Saturday declared it will ban non-resident foreign nationals after it detected the new variant of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spain-confirms-new-virus-strain-as-vaccines-begin-arriving-in-european-nations-352576">virus</a> from Britain.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-japans-deputy-defence-minister-china-and-who-needs-to-tell-us-whats-going-on-352171/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The new measures will come into effect from December 28 which is set to last till late January&nbsp;as Japan battles the virus.</p>

<p>The government has allowed citizens and foreign residents to enter but they must show proof of negative coronavirus test in the last 72 hours before departing for Japan and <strong>quarantine</strong> for two weeks after arrival.</p>

<p>Japan's health ministry had reported five people who had arrived from Britain were detected with the new <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-tops-3-million-coronavirus-cases-amid-sputnik-v-vaccination-drive-352617">virus</a> strain which is believed to be up to "70 per cent" more infectious.</p>

<p>Japan reported 949 cases in capital Tokyo ahead of the <strong>New Years </strong>celebrations as PM &nbsp;Yoshihide Suga urged the nation to stay home and avoid social mixing.</p>

<p>Prime Minister <strong>Yoshihide Suga</strong> has urged citizens to spend a "silent" New Year to prevent the spread of the virus while unveiling a fresh package of $2.61 billion for institutions treating coronavirus patients.</p>

<p>The country is set to host the Olympics in 2021 as authorities insist the virus cases are in control even as PM Suga has repeatedly said that he is determined to hold the games as proof that humanity has defeated the virus.</p>

<p>The Tokyo Olympics which were scheduled for 2020 were postponed by a year because of the pandemic.</p>

<p>The country has devised a plan for the virus with a panel urging authorities to vaccinate people aged 65 or older to get priority.</p>

<p>Japan has agreements with Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca Plc and Moderna to buy 290 million vaccine doses for a population of 126 million as the country faces a third wave of coronavirus infections putting the nation's medical system under strain.</p>


Japan on Saturday declared it will ban non-resident foreign nationals after it detected the new variant of the virus from Britain. Watch: The new measures will come into effect from December 28 which is set to last till late January as Japan battles the virus.

Japan on Saturday declared it will ban non-resident foreign nationals after it detected the new variant of the virus from Britain. Watch: The new measures will come into effect from December 28 which is set to last till late January as Japan battles the virus. The government has allowed citizens and foreign residents to enter but they must show proof of negative coronavirus test in the last 72 hours before departing for Japan and quarantine for two weeks after arrival. Japan's health ministry had reported five people who had arrived from Britain were detected with the new virus strain which is believed to be up to "70 per cent" more infectious. Japan reported 949 cases in capital Tokyo ahead of the New Years celebrations as PM Yoshihide Suga urged the nation to stay home and avoid social mixing. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has urged citizens to spend a "silent" New Year to prevent the spread of the virus while unveiling a fresh package of $2.61 billion for institutions treating coronavirus patients. The country is set to host the Olympics in 2021 as authorities insist the virus cases are in control even as PM Suga has repeatedly said that he is determined to hold the games as proof that humanity has defeated the virus. The Tokyo Olympics which were scheduled for 2020 were postponed by a year because of the pandemic. The country has devised a plan for the virus with a panel urging authorities to vaccinate people aged 65 or older to get priority. Japan has agreements with Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca Plc and Moderna to buy 290 million vaccine doses for a population of 126 million as the country faces a third wave of coronavirus infections putting the nation's medical system under strain.

Japan bans entry of foreigners after detecting UK virus strain