Congress committee urges FBI to investigate China swimming cases

U.S. lawmakers have urged the FBI and the Department of Justice to investigate the cases of 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned substance before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 but were allowed to compete.

The letter from the chairman and ranking member of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, dated Tuesday, called for the use of the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, which was passed into law by then President Donald Trump in 2020.

The act allows for imposing sanctions on certain people involved in international doping fraud conspiracies and requires restitution for victims.

"This scandal raises serious legal, ethical, and competitive concerns and may constitute a broader state-sponsored strategy by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to unfairly compete at the Olympic Games in ways Russia has previously done," Representative John Moolenaar, Republican of Michigan, and the committee’s senior Democrat, Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, wrote in the letter.

"It is imperative to assess whether these alleged doping practices were state-sponsored, which could warrant further diplomatic measures by the United States and the international community.

The letter referred to recent media reports on the handling of the case by the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA).

WADA came under fire in April after it was revealed that the Chinese swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine -- a prescription heart drug which can enhance performance -- ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

The swimmers were not suspended or sanctioned after WADA accepted the explanation of Chinese authorities that the results were caused by food contamination at a hotel where they had stayed.

WADA has rejected charges from the US Anti Doping Agency (USADA) that it engaged in a cover-up and China has denied any wrongdoing in the matter.

Last week Dick Pound, the founding president of WADA, suggested that USADA's actions may have a political dimension.

"USADA is financed by the United States government. That government is currently in a chilly relationship with China's government. Could there be a connection?" he asked.

WADA has asked an independent prosecutor to examine the case and publish a report.