Chinese Swimmers and Hidden Doping Cases

Tang Muhan, a 20-year-old Chinese athlete, is competing in the 200-meter freestyle relay in Paris. Notably, Tang and another athlete, He Jun, tested positive for a banned steroid in 2022. Ordinarily, this would result in suspension, a hearing, and public disclosure. However, in this case, the suspensions were managed secretly by the Chinese anti-doping agency, with no public disclosure. The narrative presented by the Chinese authorities was that Tang and He Jun ingested the steroid unintentionally through contaminated hamburgers while on a training camp in Beijing. The steroid, typically used for lean muscle mass, is not commonly found in food. Despite some skepticism, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accepted the explanation and allowed the athletes to compete. This case highlights a recurring pattern of secretive handling of doping cases by Chinese authorities, including a previous incident involving 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a heart drug. WADA reviewed the report and allowed the Chinese athletes to proceed, maintaining secrecy until investigative reporting revealed the details. Another historical instance involved Clenbuterol, another steroid. Despite these controversies, Chinese swimmers like Tang continue to compete.