International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach told AFP he had “full confidence” in the World Anti-Doping Agency's response to the positive drug tests of 23 Chinese swimmers.
“We have full confidence in WADA and its regulations, and we are confident that WADA is following its regulations,” Bach said in an interview Friday at the commission's headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. .
WADA has been under fire since media reported last weekend that swimmers had tested positive for the performance-enhancing heart drug trimetazidine (TMZ) ahead of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. .
The swimmers were not suspended or sanctioned because WADA accepted Chinese authorities' conclusion that food contamination at the hotel where they were staying was the cause.
Bach said he learned about the test failure through media reports.
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“This (doping) is WADA's domain. WADA is an independent agency and there can be no flow of information,” he said.
He said the IOC was awaiting the results of an investigation ordered by WADA on Thursday by former Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier, and would review the global anti-doping agency's handling of the case.
Bach said that if Chinese swimmers are allowed to participate, they will be free to participate in the Paris Olympics, which opens on July 26.
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“If you follow the procedures, there's no reason not to participate,” he said.
“You can't just throw accusations at athletes who don't have the backing of the relevant authorities, in this case WADA, and say, 'Okay, some people aren't happy for these reasons.' It will keep them away from the Olympic Games,” he added.
China's anti-doping agency announced on Friday that it would cooperate with a compliance audit ordered by WADA.
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“China will actively cooperate with WADA's future audits and provide assistance as necessary,” the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) said in a statement.
U.S. Anti-Doping Agency Director Travis Tygart called the situation a “possible cover-up,” and the agency on Thursday branded WADA's announcement of an independent investigation “self-serving.”
WADA said there was “not a single shred of evidence” to support the “false accusations” made against it.
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