China's Doping Scandal: Contaminated Food or Cover-Up?

China faces another doping scandal as two swimmers' positive tests for a banned steroid were blamed on contaminated food, raising tensions between WADA and the U.S. anti-doping authorities. Investigations revealed previous similar incidents, sparking intense scrutiny and debate over anti-doping protocols and athlete fairness.

China has been thrust back into the doping spotlight following a New York Times report about two swimmers who tested positive for a banned steroid in 2022. Their provisional suspensions were lifted, citing contaminated food as the cause.

Already high tensions between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the U.S. anti-doping body have intensified, particularly given a case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for trimetazidine before the Tokyo Games, with contamination again being blamed.

A Chinese investigation suggested the swimmers ingested the steroid from tainted hamburgers in Beijing. U.S. Anti-Doping Agency Chief, Travis Tygart, accused China of covering up serious doping violations, calling for reforms and insisting that the credibility of international sports bodies is at stake.

(With inputs from agencies.)