An old positive case for food contamination once again leaves China under scrutiny in Paris 2024
JM González
July 30, 2024

China is once again under scrutiny regarding doping issues. In the midst of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the New York Times published a new case where food contamination appears as the cause of adverse analytical results, just as in April when 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive prior to Tokyo 2020. .

According to the American media, the swimmer Tang Muhan, who is present at Paris 2024, and another athlete whose name is not revealed, tested positive for methandienone in October 2022. On that occasion, the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) provisionally suspended those involved, whose defense argued that the cause was a contaminated hamburger.

Although both Muhan and the athlete not publicly identified were suspended for four years, then new positive tests of a shooter and a BMX cyclist also for methandienone gave CHINADA arguments to link the cases, accept the arguments and close the case at the end of 2023.

The World Anti-Doping Agency finally ruled that there was no precedent to suspend the athletes. The case is similar to what was previously mentioned about the positive results of Chinese swimmers before Tokyo 2020, when at a concentration of the Chinese Olympic Committee, 23 tested positive for timetazidine due to hotel food.

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