2016 CHINESE OLYMPIC SWIMMING TRIALS
- April 3rd-10th, 2016
- Foshan, Guangdong, China
- Foshan Century Lotus Swimming & Diving Hall
- Live video
Last week, the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) announced that six Chinese swimmers had recently tested positive for banned substances. One of those swimmers was Chinese National Record holder and World Junior Record holder Wang Lizhuo, who tested positive for clenbuterol in the fall of 2015. He received only a warning, and his team had to pay a fine. FINA is still considering whether or not to appeal the Chinese agency’s decision.
Amid controversy over CHINADA’s handling of the situation, the Chinese Olympic Swimming Trials rage on. Earlier today Wang, who was born in 1999, broke his own Chinese National Record and World Junior Record in the 100 breaststroke, swimming 59.64 to defend his title from the Chinese Fall National Championships in September. That swim from last season made him both the first Chinese swimmer and the first junior swimmer ever under a minute.
His swim from today also moves him from fifth to fourth in the world rankings, with only Cameron van der Burgh, Adam Peaty, and Felipe Silva sitting ahead of him. Wang is well-within striking distance of Silva’s best time this season, a 59.56. Peaty is second with 59.28 and van der Burgh is the only swimmer under 59 this season with his 58.97 from the FINA World Cup meet in Paris-Chartreus.
2015-2016 LCM Men 100 BREAST
PEATY
57.13 *WR*OR
2 | Cameron VAN DER BURGH | RSA | 58.69 | 08/07 |
3 | Cody MILLER | USA | 58.87 | 08/07 |
4 | Yasuhiro KOSEKI | JPN | 58.91 | 08/06 |
5 | Kevin CORDES | USA | 58.94 | 06/26 |
Tested positive for clenbuterol and a few months later breaks Chinese national record and world junior record.
I don’t know if I must laugh or cry. 😆 😥
It’s an Olympic year, so I think crying is in order.
Wang Lizhui gets a warning for testing positive for clenbuterol yet there are documented cases of other swimmers testing positive with suspensions for this drug as follows: Katrin Krabbe – German Swimmer – three year suspension – missed 1992 Olympics Jessica Hardy – USA Swimmer – one year suspension – missed 2008 Olympics Clenbuterol is a drug used to treat breathing disorders. It has long lasting positive effects that increases aerobic capacity and oxygen transportation to the body’s muscle. Both of these advantages would help Wang Lizhui perform at a higher level! What is the point of having a banned substance unless the governing agency suspends the athlete when tested positive? Based upon the above it looks like CHINADA’s ethics… Read more »
Wait….I forgot that FINA is waiting to consider an appeal of the CHINADA decision! Maybe they are waiting for the CHECK TO CLEAR before they reconsider the punishment?
Once again, FINA is murky on the concept of moral clarity. Keep bringing shame to our sport and its participants!
The way they treat Chinese swimmers is so unfair to others around the world. Somehow, they always manage to get warnings or a shorter suspension than others. Jess Hardy should’ve been able to compete in Beijing, but oh well. She definitely would’ve won 100 breast.
I don’t know for sure, but after reading a lot, I tend to believe Hardy’s account that she didn’t know she was ingesting Clenbuterol. But to me that in no way excuses her from ultimate responsibility for what she ingests, so I think the decision to suspend her through the Olympics was the correct one.