Chinese swimmer and Rio Olympics participant Chen Xinyi has tested positive for a banned substance, state-run news agency Xinhua reported on Friday.
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Chen, 18, who finished fourth in the women’s 100m butterfly final, tested positive for diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) on Sunday (Aug. 7), according to the South China Morning Post.
Doping allegations have plagued this year’s swimming competitions after Australian Mack Horton called his rival and fellow Olympic swimming gold medalist Sun Yang a “drug cheat”, and USA gold medalist Lily King criticized Russia’s twice-banned swimmer Yulia Efimova.
However, the embattled swimmer has applied to the International Olympic Committee for her B sample to be tested and for a hearing.
The CSA has required Chen to cooperate with the investigation, Xinhua said. “I believe [those representing] our country would not intentionally take banned substances”, wrote one user. Others went back to Horton’s comments against Sun, but many pointed out that Chen testing positive for the banned drug “has nothing to do with Sun Yang, and Horton will still be his bitch in the 1500m”.
The announcement was reported early Friday by Xinhua, the official state news agency.
Chen’s failed test after narrowly missing a bronze medal in the women’s 100-metre butterfly was announced as athletics headed into the Olympic spotlight needing an antidote to its own doping scandals. “Hang yourself in Brazil and don’t come back, thanks”, wrote one user beneath Chen’s most recent microblog post on August 8, in which she reflected on her performance in the 100-meter final.
French swimmer Camille Lacourt also waded into the row after Sun won gold in the 200m freestyle final, telling a French radio station: “Sun Yang, he pisses purple”.
Zielinski, who was scheduled to compete in the 94-kilogram division, tested positive for the steroid 19-Norandrosterone, while Danekova tested positive for EPO, a blood-boosting hormone that aids stamina and endurance.
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Irish boxer Michael O’Reilly and Greek swimmer Theodora Gianeni have also withdrawn from the Games after being notified of failures on arrival in Rio, along with two weightlifters, Cyprus’ Antonis Mastasdis and Poland’s Tomasz Zelinski.
