NEW YORK – The head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) on April 22 demanded an investigation into the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (Wada) handling of 23 positive tests by Chinese swimmers and welcomed the global body’s threat of legal action.

Wada had fired back at critics and provided a detailed explanation of its decision not to sanction the swimmers, who tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) months before the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics began in July 2021.

They escaped punishment after an investigation by Chinese authorities ruled the adverse analytical findings, or AAFs, were the result of being inadvertently exposed to the drug through contamination.

A report determined that all the swimmers who tested positive were staying at the same hotel where traces of the heart medication TMZ were found in the kitchen, the extraction unit above the hall and drainage units.

There was no explanation for how the TMZ found its way into the hotel.

China’s 30-member swimming team won six medals at the Tokyo Games, including three golds.

“The whole situation is a tragedy for clean athletes around the world,” said Usada chief Travis Tygart. “They should have announced the violation... disqualified the athletes.

“Clean athletes look at this system and are just frustrated a number of athletes at this level can test positive for a substance and you have (China) state security create this excuse and then that gets signed off by the global regulator.

“Athletes are calling for a review and an investigation and we have to get to the bottom of how this possibly happened.”

Wada conceded it conducted no on-the-ground investigation and instead relied on a China doping agency (Chinada) report, and then employed its own scientific experts and external legal counsel to test the contamination theory.

World Aquatics, meanwhile, said it was confident the positive tests were handled “diligently and professionally”, while the International Testing Agency (ITA) confirmed on April 22 that it was not aware of any cover-up.

“For the sake of clarity and transparency, it is pointed out that since the Chinada decision in 2021, the ITA has not come across any reliable evidence that would suggest that a cover-up or a manipulation of the anti-doping process took place,” ITA said in a statement.

With help from leaders of its science and legal affairs departments and investigative unit, Wada presented a detailed step-by-step analysis of how it reached its conclusion.

But its answers are unlikely to sway critics, who question how the body can so easily accept the findings of an investigation conducted internally by China, with a tainted history when it comes to doping, particularly in the pool.

“We really appreciate Wada opening up and providing some information about their process,” added Tygart.

“It was unfortunately very unsatisfying and actually opened up a whole load of questions... that need to be answered and actually investigated.”

Wada and Usada appear on a collision course over the case, with Tygart also calling the ruling a “potential cover-up” and Wada threatening legal action.

If Wada chooses to go that route, Tygart said to bring it on.

“I would welcome it because it would be a lot of fun to see the discovery between the e-mails and the discussion why they decided not to follow the rules and cover this situation up,” he said.

The Biden administration’s top drug official has also on April 22 called for an independent investigation.

The official, Rahul Gupta, who is the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said that he planned to bring up the handling of the positive tests during a two-day meeting of sports ministers in Washington.

Top members of Wada are scheduled to attend the event, which starts on April 25.

“The United States stands by its commitment to ensure that every American athlete and those across the globe are provided a level playing field and a fair shot in international athletic competitions,” he said in response to questions from The New York Times.

“There must be rigorous, independent investigations to look into any incident of potential wrongdoing.” REUTERS, NYTIMES