The frequency of doping tests in swimming should be determined by organisations such as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and World Aquatics, to ensure the fairness of Olympic competitions, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach said during a press conference on Saturday.
The IOC president made the remarks when inquired on whether there will be a potential increase in doping tests for the Chinese swimming team, who had already been tested in large numbers, following Pan Zhanle’s world record-breaking performance in men’s 100m freestyle on July 31.
Anti-doping organisations have tested each Chinese swimmer an average of 21 times since January 1. The number was significantly higher compared to the average of six times for American and four times for Australian swimmers, World Aquatics revealed on July 23.
Bach underscored that the IOC delegate the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and its framework, alongside national anti-doping laboratories, with the responsibility of conducting doping tests.
Moreover, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is tasked with adjudicating doping-related sanctions. “It’s up to these anti-doping entities, and when it comes to swimming, in particular, together with World Aquatics, to determine the number of tests,” Bach stated, “In this way, we ensure a fair Olympic Games for everyone,” Bach said.
After China’s Pan stunned the world, his compatriot, Tokyo Olympic champion Zhang Yufei during a press conference challenged the double standards in the scrutiny faced by Chinese athletes compared to their Western counterparts.
