World Aquatics confirms US federal investigation into Chinese doping tests

The United States has launched a federal investigation into the Chinese doping scandal that resulted in 23 swimmers testing positive for a banned substance in 2021 and still competing in the Tokyo Olympics later that year.

World Aquatics confirmed the investigation to The Associated Press (AP)noting that the Executive Director Brent Nowicki was summoned to testify in the investigation.

Confirmation of the investigation came less than a month after a House China committee asked the Justice Department and FBI to investigate the case under a federal law that allows investigations into alleged doping conspiracies even if they occurred outside the United States.

“World Aquatics can confirm that its CEO, Brent Nowicki, has been served with a subpoena by the U.S. government,” World Aquatics said in a statement to the Associated Press. “He is working to arrange a meeting with the government that will most likely eliminate the need for him to testify before a grand jury.”

According to AP, World Aquatics declined to answer questions about which office was conducting the investigation or where and when Nowicki was served with his subpoena.

In April, it was announced that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine during a training camp in early 2021, in the months leading up to the Tokyo Games.

The China Anti-Doping Administration (CHINADA) found adverse analytical findings (AAF) in the test results and acquitted all swimmers without penalty after determining that the samples were flagged as positive due to food contamination.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accepted CHINADA’s findings without conducting an independent investigation. WADA, which launched an investigation after the news broke, has been heavily criticized for its handling of the case, including at a U.S. Congressional hearing chaired by the CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). Travis Tygart and included swimmers Michael Phelps And Allison Schmitt testify.

Eleven of the swimmers who tested positive in 2021 will compete in the Paris Olympics, which begin in just over three weeks. The most famous swimmers to test positive were the Tokyo Olympic champions Zhang Yufei And Wang Shunand 2023 three-time world champion and world record holder Qin Haiyang.