Broadcaster Neil Mitchell has asserted that China’s Olympic swimming programs are ‘predicated on cheating’ following the country’s claim that the detection of steroids in two of its swimmers was due to contaminated Australian beef imports.
The swimmers tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance in 2022, but the findings were kept confidential until China’s anti-doping authority determined that the substance was likely ingested through tainted hamburgers made from Australian beef.
‘They’re shielding them. The Chinese system is structured around cheating… There were 23 [athletes] suspected at Tokyo and 11 during the Paris Games,’ Mitchell told Sunrise’s Nat Barr on Thursday, after the host remarked that ‘it feels like the Chinese are treated differently’ regarding drug-related issues in sports.
The panel discussion followed Kyle Chalmers’ defeat in the 100m freestyle by Chinese sensation Pan Zhanle, who shattered his own world record by finishing a remarkable second ahead of the Australian.
Amanda Rose, founder of Western Sydney Women and also part of the panel, pointed out that it seemed the regulations concerning banned substances were not uniformly enforced among all nations participating in the Olympics.
‘I wonder if this is a tactic to deflect blame, like ”Hey, we’ve been caught, let’s put it on the Aussies” since we’re a smaller nation.’
‘It appears that some countries are subjected to testing while others might avoid penalties, resulting in a disparity in consequences… I believe testing protocols for Olympic athletes need to be standardized and possibly reviewed.’
Mitchell concurred, referencing the case of Australian swimmer Shayna Jack, who tested positive for the anabolic agent Ligandrol during an out-of-competition test by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority in 2019.
Broadcaster Neil Mitchell claimed to Sunrise host Natalie Barr that drug cheating was ingrained in China’s Olympic swimming program – after Barr said it appears ‘the Chinese are treated differently’ when it comes to drugs in sport
The panel discussion came just after Kyle Chalmers was beaten in the 100m freestyle by Chinese star Pan Zhanle, who came in a huge full second ahead of the Aussie
China has blamed Australia for two of the nation’s swimming stars failing drug tests in 2022
‘She was banned. Her results were made public, and she was unable to compete for two years. This suggests that Chinese athletes are treated differently,’ he remarked.
Mitchell noted: ‘We’ve been aware of such issues for 50 years… claiming ignorance about accidentally consuming something that contains a drug is not a valid excuse.’
‘I could easily stop by McDonald’s for a quarter pounder for breakfast. It could be an unexpected boost for me.’
He emphasized that the ‘real question’ is whether any athletes at the Paris Games would be comfortable sharing a podium with Chinese swimmers.
‘Would they take a stand like Mac Horton? Would they refrain from stepping onto the podium with an athlete they believe is a drug cheat?
‘It detracts from their achievement, but I would like to see a genuine protest from the other athletes who are being treated unfairly.’
A Chinese investigation found the stars consumed a steroid by eating hamburgers made with Australian beef (stock image)
In 2019, Horton received acclaim at the athletes’ village after protesting against the contentious Chinese swimmer Sun Yang during the world championships after finishing second in the 400m freestyle.
The Olympic champion did not shake hands with Sun after he was relegated to silver in the event and refused to join him on the podium during the opening night in Gwangju, South Korea.
Horton was discontented that Sun, who had previously served a doping ban in 2014, had been permitted to participate ahead of a pending Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing.
The hearing addressed allegations that Sun had aggressively destroyed a container containing blood samples during a confrontation with testers.
He ultimately received a four-year and three-month ban for his actions.
American breaststroke champion Lilly King later disclosed that Horton was applauded by fellow competitors upon returning from the pool after refusing to recognize Sun.
Mack Horton (left) refused to step on the podium after he was beaten by controversial Chinese star Sun Yang (centre) in 2019
The recent allegations involving two Chinese swimmers testing positive for a strong steroid in 2022, one of whom is part of China’s team in Paris, were detailed in the New York Times.
The article stated that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) expressed skepticism regarding the contaminated hamburger explanation but chose not to challenge China’s decision to avoid penalizing the swimmers.
‘The politicization of Chinese swimming persists with this latest effort by the U.S. media to insinuate misconduct by WADA and the larger anti-doping community,’ WADA remarked in a comprehensive statement on Tuesday.
‘As we have witnessed in recent months, WADA has been unjustly caught in the crossfire of geopolitical tensions among superpowers but possesses no authority to engage in that.’
