The Chinese swimming Association has confirmed Olympic swimmer Chen Xinyi has failed a doping test at the Rio Games.
Chen, who has already competed in the women’s 100-metre butterfly, finishing just outside of the medals in fourth, was due to swim in the heats of the 50m freestyle on Friday morning (AEST).
She tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic banned due its ability to mask performance-enhancing drugs.
It’s believed the 18-year-old tried to take the case to CAS in an attempt to avoid suspension after the Chinese swimming association was informed of the matter on Wednesday (AEST).
According to the Xinhua news agency, the Chinese association Chen has supplied her “B” sample for further testing and requested an evidentiary hearing.
Reports indicate that the failed test was taken prior to Chen’s arrival in Rio and she competed in the butterfly without being aware she had returned an alleged positive result.
FINA spokespeople have so far declined to comment on the situation.
The news comes hot on the heels of Chinese swimmers being placed under the global spotlight by Australia’s Mack Horton, who labelled Sun Yang a “drug cheat” on the opening day of competition.
It follows a controversial lead-up to the 2016 Rio Olympics, where Russia’s entire athletics team and Paralympic team have been banned for their involvement in systematic, state-wide doping for the past five years.
Doping has become one of the hottest issues surrounding the Games, with voices coming out in support of legalising doping, but with athletes largely making a stand against it.
It is one of the first times in an Olympic Games where athletes competing have taken a vocal and active stand against other competitors involved in the Olympics, at times in their own team. Famously, Lilly King, the American gold medallist, took aim at USA teammate Justin Gatlin for his chequered history with doping.
Marko Kraljevic
Roar Rookie
The list of American (female) athletes stripped of medals and everything is long and strong... As well as for many other countries. One substance gets banned, another 10 are produced. The whole system is broken.
Marko Kraljevic
Roar Rookie
"She tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic banned due its ability to mask performance-enhancing drugs." So... After ALL of these reports of doping, I hope that it paints a clear picture - since EVERYONE is doping and it's a question of not getting caught - how ridiculous was to ban Sharapova and then go along with the manufactured Russian "doping scandal". What an embarrassment of EPIC proportions... Some people get banned because their doping substance doesn't have the altered molecule(s) of what the other athletes are taking. Others go on to win gold medals. So bad, terrible. :-/
michaelj
Guest
Not sexually. You must have that on the brain.
Jay
Guest
Agreed. Still sad to see. To be frank, imo the Olympics should be phased out. The Olympic spirit doesn't exist, and in fact is obviously just creating animosity between nations. Corruption accusations are abound. The competition of excellence in competitive sports BETWEEN NATIONS is pretty redundant. Just because Phelps beats somebody doesn't ACTUALLY mean everyone the the united states will beat another country handily. I don't get the point. Factors such as funding of sports programs, height, wingspan, reach, being double jointed (like Phelps) are all "advantages" allowed in these sports and, in my eyes just means you cannot organise a sporting event between nations thats completely fair anyway. Now bearing that in mind, why should it evoke national pride? I understand the exhilaration involved when cheering your nation on, but at the end of the day, it's the individual. I cannot articulate this well, but to me the Olympics represents nothing in the scheme of things.
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
hahaha Steve...love it!
Steve Kerr
Roar Rookie
Why always pick on the Chinese and Russians? Because they keep getting caught doping: it's the same reason everyone gives Lance Armstrong a hard time. Why does Michael Phelps constantly change his togs Because he'd feel pretty silly going back to the Olympic village in his swimsuit why was his team mate in the relay staring at his lower back or buttocks? Presumably the same reason you were....
MichaelJ.
Guest
Why always pick on the Chinese and Russians? Why does Michael Phelps constantly change his togs and why was his team mate in the relay straring at his lower back or buttocks?
the spectator
Guest
Was always going to happen, was just a matter of when. This olympics will be remembered as the beginning of the end. The IOC let in too many known drug cheats, the retrospective testing will expose them in the long run. Best to treat the Olympics like Rock and Roll Wrestling from now on, good for a bit of a laugh but in the end rigged.