Fresh Chinese doping allegations threaten to taint Paris swimming competition

A dark cloud of doubt already hung over the start of the Paris swimming competition after reports that Chinese swimmers failed doping tests but were allowed to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Games. That left athletes angered over the fairness of testing protocols.

That cloud got darker Tuesday as fresh doping allegations were revealed by the New York Times, which reported two more Chinese swimmers apparently tested positive for banned substances, this time in 2022, and ultimately were not barred from future competition.

The report detailed how the swimmers were supposedly victims of another case of food contamination, according to Chinese investigators. The World Anti-Doping Agency provisionally suspended them for one year, but again accepted China's explanation in 2023 and the suspensions were ultimately lifted.

This latest development further threatens the integrity of the swimming competition in Paris despite Chinese swimmers continually defending their innocence.

Eleven of the 23 Chinese swimmers from the initial allegations are currently competing in Paris and one, Zhang Yufei, has won two bronze medals so far.