中国競泳の薬物問題 ＩＯＣはＷＡＤＡに「全幅の信頼」

【ローザンヌＡＦＰ＝時事】中国の競泳選手２３人が２０２１年東京五輪前のドーピング検査で陽性となりながら五輪出場を認められていた問題で、世界反ドーピング機関（ＷＡＤＡ）の対応に誤りはなかったとする調査報告書を受け、国際オリンピック委員会（ＩＯＣ）は１１日、ＷＡＤＡへの「全面的な信頼」を示した。（写真は世界反ドーピング機関〈ＷＡＤＡ〉のロゴ）
　ＩＯＣは声明で、「この報告書に基づき、ＩＯＣはＷＡＤＡとその指導部への全幅の信頼を再確認している。同機関は近年、システム強化のために多くのイニシアチブを実行してきた」と述べ、ＷＡＤＡが利害関係者から無条件の支持を得るべきだとも補足した。
　一方、米国反ドーピング機関（ＵＳＡＤＡ）のトップで、ＷＡＤＡに対して長らく批判的な立場を示しているトラビス・タイガート最高経営責任者（ＣＥＯ）は、中国競泳選手をめぐる今回の問題で、ＷＡＤＡのウィトルド・バンカ会長が隠蔽（いんぺい）工作を主導したと批判している。
　バンカ会長は、９日に出された調査報告書を受けてＵＳＡＤＡらの批判を一蹴。こうした数々の声は「不快な疑念」の一つであり、外部の弁護士が発言内容を調査しているとも付け加えた。
　ＷＡＤＡへ一部資金を提供しているＩＯＣは、この問題に対して冷静さを取り戻すこと、そしてＷＡＤＡにその職務を一任するよう呼び掛け、「ＩＯＣは全ての利害関係者に対し、ドーピングとの闘いにおいてＷＡＤＡの最高権威を尊重するよう訴える」「この尊重が、世界各国政府と五輪ムーブメントによって設立されたＷＡＤＡの基盤を形成している。公平な国際競技大会には、この尊重が不可欠である」と述べた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/07/12-17:47）

The International Olympic Committee expressed its full confidence in the World Anti-Doping Agency on Thursday after a report said it had not mishandled the case of Chinese swimmers cleared to compete after testing positive for a banned drug.
Based on this report, the IOC reaffirms its full confidence in WADA and its leadership, who have implemented a number of initiatives that have strengthened the system in recent years, read the IOC statement.
The IOC also said WADA should receive unqualified support from its stakeholders.
Travis Tygart, head of the US Anti-Doping Agency and a long-time critic of WADA, has accused its president Witold Banka of orchestrating a cover-up in the case of the Chinese swimmers.
That claim was dismissed by Banka following the release of the report on Tuesday, telling AFP they were one of several disgusting allegations made about the case and adding that external lawyers were looking at the remarks.
The IOC -- who partly fund WADA -- called for calm to be restored and the global anti-doping body to be left alone to get on with its job.
The IOC appeals to all stakeholders to respect the supreme authority of WADA in the fight against doping, read the IOC statement.
This respect forms the basis on which WADA was founded by the governments of the world and the Olympic Movement. This respect is essential for any fair international competition.
The crisis arose when in April, the New York Times and German broadcaster ARD reported the swimmers had tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ), a banned heart medicine which can enhance performance, at a domestic competition in late 2020 and early 2021.
It was determined by Chinese anti-doping authorities they ingested the substance unwittingly from tainted food at their hotel and no action against them was warranted.
WADA accepted the argument of the Chinese authorities and did not sanction the swimmers.
Some of them went on to compete in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. Zhang Yufei won two golds and Wang Shun was also crowned Olympic champion.
Eleven of the swimmers have been selected for the Paris Olympics which start this month.
The case caused a global uproar, with US anti-doping authorities accusing WADA of a cover-up.
As a result, WADA set up an independent investigation overseen by retired Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier, whose interim findings were released on Tuesday.
There is nothing in the file -- which is complete -- to suggest that WADA showed favouritism or deference, or in any way favoured the 23 swimmers who tested positive for TMZ, the report said.