On June 17, China Anti-Doping Agency(CHINADA) responded to questions raised by the New York Times regarding the clenbuterol case involving Chinese swimmers, but did not see any follow-up reports from the New York Times. Our public statement is as follows:

CHINADA has noticed the unauthorized disclosure of unpublished documents and information, and the privacy of the athletes (including minors) by media outlets including the New York Times, who misinterpreted the positive findings for clenbuterol caused by meat contamination as intentional doping by the athletes. This is a violation of the media ethics and morals, an attempt to mislead public understanding on anti-doping work and has caused a severe damage on the reputation of WADA, CHINADA and the global anti-doping system. CHINADA deplores and rejects this, and reserves its right to take legal action as appropriate against the New York Times and other media for their reports and statements that are contrary to basic facts.

As for the three Chinese swimmers whose information was illegally disclosed, WADA has confirmed that they tested positive for extremely low concentration of clenbuterol in 2016 and 2017. Each of them was found to have levels of clenbuterol between six and 50 times lower than the minimum reporting level of 5ng/mL that is currently in place. In fact, these three athletes received a total of 72 tests conducted by both CHINADA and FINA(now known as the World Aquatics) between 2016 and 2017. That means 12 tests per athlete per year on average. Only one positive result for extremely low concentration of clenbuterol was detected for each one of them. After receiving the AAF reports from the laboratory, CHINADA conducted a thorough, in-depth and detailed investigation into the cases in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and WADA’s guidance concerning clenbuterol cases. Taking into consideration evidence including the concentration of clenbuterol in the athletes’ urine samples, their diets and testing history, analysis results of the meat product and market survey, it was concluded that the AAFs for clenbuterol were an isolated case as a result of athletes’ ingestion of meat contaminated with clenbuterol. Therefore, it was decided that no sanctions would be imposed on the athletes involved. The decisions of these cases were submitted to WADA and FINA in a timely manner and were recognized by them. 

We hereby reiterate that CHINADA, as always, will work for the rights and interests of clean athletes and the integrity in sport with a firm attitude and principle of independence, impartiality, professionalism and authority. At the same time, the fight against doping is a long-term, complex and arduous task that requires the participation and support of all stakeholders. We sincerely hope that colleagues from the media will, based on responsibility for the public, cover the cases objectively and fairly by respecting the fact, following the science and obeying the rules to treat fairly the athletes unknowingly taking prohibited substances due to food or environmental contamination, and to concentrate on cases involving real dopers. We would like to work together with you for the protection of the legitimate rights and interest of athletes and clean sport, and for the stability, collaboration, harmonized development and improvement of the global anti-doping system.