In the wake of Russia losing its appeal to have the Olympic ban against its track and field athletes lifted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the nation of China is reportedly taking a zero-tolerance stance on doping across its entire Rio contingent.
Vice Director of the General Administration of Sports in China, Gao Zhidian, told Xinhua News today that any athlete, coach or team doctor headed to Rio in an official capacity for the 2016 Olympic Games is required to sign a no-cheat pledge. Any violation of the pledge would result in ‘severe punishment.’
Additionally, the entire Rio-bound Chinese squad, which consists of 416 athletes, must pass a written exam covering the subject of banned substances. Gao said only those scoring 80% or better will be permitted to travel to Rio to represent China.
Also serving as the Deputy Chef de Mission for China, Gao stated, “China has been firmly against doping and has a zero-tolerance approach to this particular problem. We have made it very clear that we want to ensure fair play and the well-being of athletes.”
Of the recently announced Chinese swimming roster for Rio, two athletes have been subject to doping suspensions in the past as a result of testing positive for prohibited substances. World Record Holder Sun Yang served a 3-month suspension after testing positive in May 2014, while reigning 100m freestyle World Champion Ning Zetao was banned for clenbuterol in 2011.
The former World Junior Record Holder in the men’s 100m breaststroke, Wang Lizhou, also tested positive for clenbuterol earlier this year and was left off of the Chinese Olympic swimming roster.
Meanwhile the Undisputed Queen of Doping Ledecky doesn’t have to sign a thing.
So many haters here.
Virgin white kids with too much free time
If you talk about Sun,that’s fine with me.
He was caught in Rio circuit actually no matter what reason for.
But why you blah blah Ning’s 5 years ago case just like haters?
5 years,is it not enough?
If your moral standard is Ning should be banned for life?
I actually thinks China conducts extensive testing on their athletes but only to see if they’re effectively concealing their drug use. Especially before the Olympics where if you’re caught during the games you get a lifetime ban.
I could have sworn most nations do test everyone before departure to see………
Lol nice theory with no proof
I would laugh if anyone refused to sign it
I suspect it will be about as rigorous as the tests in the ‘sports literature studies’ classes that college football players take at many schools to keep their gpa above the eligibility mendoza line.
I heard just one swimmer was going to do the test and then Melania Trump was going to help all the others do theirs quickly.
A protestor at the RNC was apprehended with 3 bags of urine . went to the wrong address obviously.
HAHAHA! What a JOKE! How about outside, consistent , random testing to go along with that “promise.”