Even though they tested positive for the cardiac medicine trimetazidine, a group of 23 Chinese swimmers was permitted to participate in the Tokyo Olympics. The swimmers were cleared by Chinese anti-doping authorities, who attributed the results to contamination, despite the fact that the adverse tests took place at a pre-Olympic training camp. The thirty-person Chinese swimming team proceeded to win six medals, three of which were gold. The positive test results were reported to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and World Aquatics (formerly FINA), who concurred with the Chinese authorities' conclusion that the samples were contaminated.
As a result, the athletes received no penalties. World Aquatics declared that all anti-doping laws were observed and expressed trust in the way the adverse analytical findings (AAF) were handled. Professor Olivier Rabin, senior director of science and medicine at WADA, clarified that WADA thoroughly examined the issue prior to the Tokyo Games. This involved getting information on contamination scenarios from the trimetazidine manufacturer.
