Chinese Olympic swimmer Chen Xinyi accepts provisional ban after dope test as rivals slam her
Chen did not swim the 50m freestyle heat as other swimmers expressed outrage about competitors taking drugs
Swimmer Chen Xinyi has accepted a provisional suspension for failing a drug test as rivals in the women’s 50 metre freestyle in which she was due to compete on Friday expressed outrage over the latest doping scandal involving a Chinese swimmer.
The Chinese Swimming Association has confirmed that the 18-year-old swimmer tested positive for diuretic hydrochlorothiazide on August 7, the day she finished fourth in the 100m butterfly final.
Chen has applied to the International Olympic Committee for testing of her B sample and a hearing to look into the matter, said the association.
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“The athlete accepted a provisional suspension on a voluntary basis; as a consequence, the athlete is provisionally suspended from competing at the Olympic Games Rio 2016,” said a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) statement. “The procedure will continue and the CAS ADD [Anti-Doping Division] will issue a final award before the end of the Games.”
The IOC refused to comment because the case is ongoing, and reporters who tried to get some reaction from the Chinese delegation were similarly rebuffed.
