Chinese swimmers tested the most – based on independent risk assessments, says global body
Athletes from China were tested 8.8 times on average this year, in lead-up to World Aquatics Championships starting in Singapore on Friday
Drug-testing Chinese swimmers more often than those of other nations at the World Aquatics Championships was based on risk assessments by an independent anti-doping body, a senior swimming official has told the Post.
The International Testing Agency (ITA) – a not-for-profit foundation that runs anti-doping programmes for events and federations – made the assessments of teams as they prepared for the championships held in Singapore, which run from Friday until August 3.
A total of 4,018 anti-doping tests had been administered to those taking part in the event since January 1 this year – averaging two tests per athlete. World Aquatics plans to collect 830 samples during the 24-day event.
Statistics released by the governing body’s Aquatics Integrity Unit on Wednesday revealed that Chinese swimmers had been tested 8.8 times on average since January 1 – the highest among the 10 largest swimming teams at the global championships.
They were followed by neutral athletes – of Russian nationality – who were tested 8.2 times, and the United States, on 4.13 tests.
The top six swimmers tested this year were from China, the data shows.