A coincidence of timing, nothing more. But it asks questions. A little over a month before the Paris 2024 Olympics, the doping section was enriched on Wednesday June 19 with two new files. They concern the two countries expected to battle for first place in the medal rankings in the French capital. The United States and China. Not the best friends in the world.
China, first. Its national Olympic committee has revealed the composition of its swimming team for the Paris 2024 Games. It has 31 names. Among them, a handful of serious contenders for the podium. At the top of the list, sprinter Pan Zhanle, unexpected world record holder in the 100m freestyle since the start of the year (46 sec 80); 200m butterfly specialist Zhang Yufei, reigning Olympic champion; Tokyo 200 m medley gold medalist Wang Shun; breaststroker Qin Haiyang, triple world champion in 4 (2020, 2023 and 50m breaststroke). Strong.
So far, nothing very unexpected. China will send all its cracks to Paris. The opposite would have been a scoop. Only problem: the presence in the Olympic selection of 11 of the 23 swimmers who tested positive in 2021, before the Tokyo Games, but cleared by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on the basis of an investigation which concluded that there was food contamination.
Revealed by the German TV ARD and by New York Times, the affair caused a lot of noise. Above all, it very quickly turned into a war of declarations, press releases and accusations between WADA and the American Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). The United States accused WADA of riding for China. The Montreal-based agency responded without holding back. Its former president, the Canadian Richard Pound, noted this: “USADA is funded by the US government and that government currently has a very cold relationship with the Chinese government. Could there be a link? »
More recently, Katie Ledecky has added her voice to the debate. “It's hard to go to Paris knowing we're going to compete with some of these athletes.", declared during a television program the most successful American swimmer.
Not false. But, very embarrassing for the United States, a case really very comparable to that of the Chinese swimmers today affects an American athlete. Not the least: Erriyon Knighton, the new 200m crack, silver medalist last year at the world championships in Budapest (photo above).
A serious candidate for the podium at the 2024 Paris Games, the sprinter tested positive during an anti-doping test carried out out of competition last March. But USADA, after reviewing his case, decided not to suspend him. The reason ? The agency considered that the presence in its sample of a prohibited product was the result of… food contamination. Yes, it happens.
Always quick to blame foreign countries, USADA director Travis Tygart put forward an explanation that closely resembles that produced by Chinese sports authorities. He said an investigation was conducted and found that the contaminated meat came from a store in central Florida. USADA tested the meat, questioned the manager of the establishment, then Erryion Knighton, his girlfriend and his mother.
« We have done what the rules require us to do in all positive cases, said Travis Tygart. We can be pleased that justice has been done and that we have demonstrated the transparency required by the regulations. »
Cleared by USADA, Erriyon Knighton will be able to compete in the American Olympic trials, which begin Friday June 21 in Eugene, Oregon. He benefits from the same regime as Chinese swimmers.
WADA's response? It shouldn't have to wait too long. James Fitzgerald, its media relations manager, explained: “As it always does, WADA will review this matter and reserves the right to appeal, if necessary, to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. »
Asked by Reuters, Erriyon Knighton's lawyer, Howard Jacobs, assured that he was ready to respond to an appeal, whether it came from WADA or elsewhere.
