“Slap in the Face”: Minister Joins USA Swimming, Adam Peaty, and More in Chinese Swimming Doping Controversy Rant

The doping issue is once again ripping the sporting world apart. Several Russian athletes brought blemishes to the sporting color already. Now, some bigwigs from the Chinese swimming arena have muddied the water and a few names from the allegedly accused swimming bunch hold Olympic and world championships golds. Expectedly, the USA Swimming and other big names could not digest the issue and repeatedly loathed the perpetrators in the last few days. Now, German minister Nancy Faeser showed her disgust at the role of the concerned officials and accused swimmers who grounded the fiasco. 

The Minister of Interior was worried about the unfair advantage the alleged Chinese swimmers had, despite their offense. Showing a deep concern to that, the German minister called it, “a slap in the face of all innocent and honest athletes.” USADA posted Nancy’s statement on its X-handle on April 21, inviting the responses from the swimming fans.

British swimmer Adam Peaty couldn’t keep mum as he also took a stand on it. On April 20, the Olympic champion posted his query to the WADA asking for further clearance on the ongoing debate. Allegedly, the global watchdog ignored the mass doping issue in the first place after receiving a clean chit notice from Chinese officials. So, when WADA claimed to be clear on the status quo, Peaty asked for further details questioning the opportunists and profiteers. 

After the news came to light regarding the Chinese doping fiasco that included the intake of the banned substance trimetazidine, USA Swimming posted a detailed update on social media regarding following the imposed rules and regulations on anti-doping cases. It was the first component to be violated by the accused Chinese officials who allegedly guarded the 21 accused swimmers who took the substance before the Tokyo Olympics. Apart from the German minister and Peaty, several more responses also came. The names of the supporters are stunningly heavy. 

The USA Swimming finds its supporters in the legends and fans 

On April 21, the X-handle of USA Swimming came out with a statement where the swimming authority narrated its usual procedure to let the athletes know about the actual meaning of ‘clean sport’. Furthermore, in the same post, the authority echoed Adam Peaty’s sentiment- to come out with resolute and firm action against the culprits. Soon, USA Swimming found Katie Ledecky’s support. The 10x Olympic medalist reposted that to show her solidarity. Another swimming legend joined the League of Protesters. 

It was the Olympian and the legendary coach Brett Hawke, who came forward. In his tweet, the veteran shared a piece of article from the Sydney Morning Herald, narrating the entire fiasco. The doping fiasco saw light after the New York Times, German broadcasting agency ARD, and Australian paper Daily Telegraph detailed it. 

Meanwhile, Adam Peaty’s brother-in-arms, James Guy, also floated his disgust. Sharpening his attack on the allegedly accused Chinese swimmers, Guy called for a wholesome ban. Not stopping there, he went a step ahead in his demand. 

The Commonwealth Games champion asked for the return of the medal that his teammate, Duncan Scott, lost to Wang Shun in the Tokyo Olympics. 

In the 200m IM event in Tokyo, Wang Shun defeated the British number. 1 to bag the gold medal. Wang Shun is also one of the 21 allegedly accused Chinese swimmers. As of now, things are hitting pretty much a concerning scale. A firm step from the global watchdogs could put an end to the fiasco.