China table tennis stars get easier physical tests than swimmers as controversy rumbles on
- Veteran paddler Ma Long among the top table tennis stars to pass physical tests ahead of national championships, as swimmers struggle
- ‘Everyone is equal before the rules,’ swimming chief says but sporting bodies appear free to change GAS-set tests
The implementation of the General Administration of Sport of China’s February rules regarding physical tests unrelated to their sport for elite athletes has made headlines in domestic media and trended online.
Controversy has come to light as swimmers at the Chinese National Swimming Championships have broken records in qualifiers but then been ruled out of finals because they are not among the top eight in the physical test results.
These results will count towards qualification for Tokyo 2020, with individual times determining eligibility for the delayed Olympics, but it is unusual that swimmers are meeting the mark then missing out on the finals.
The head of the Chinese Swimming Association said that the new policy was not going anywhere and it was here to stay.
“Everyone is equal before the rules,” Zhou Jihong told China Sports News on Sunday.