Pau Gasol, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes Commission, expressed concern over the frequent doping tests administered to Chinese swimmers, describing the situation as “unfortunate.” Speaking at a press conference during the preparations for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, Gasol urged the international community to respect the authority of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and its established testing protocols.
“There was absolutely nothing found in the tests, and I am not sure whether the measure of testing Chinese swimmers two or three times more than others is right or not,” Gasol stated. He emphasized the importance of trusting WADA’s processes and acknowledged the challenges faced by athletes subjected to repeated testing.
Since January 1, anti-doping organizations have tested each Chinese swimmer an average of 21 times, significantly higher than their counterparts from other nations. According to World Aquatics, the governing body for swimming, American swimmers were tested an average of six times, while Australian swimmers underwent testing four times during the same period.
Gasol, who represented Spain in basketball across five Olympic Games from Athens 2004 to Tokyo 2020, expressed sympathy for the Chinese swimmers and praised their cooperation with the rigorous testing regime. “Multiple times in the early hours of the day and night, it’s not easy for the athletes, especially because it disrupts rest, training, and other schedules. As an athlete, I appreciate the cooperation of the Chinese swimmers in this case,” he commented.
The Spanish Olympian also addressed recent media reports that have placed additional pressure on the Chinese swimming team. Some international outlets have published articles regarding a food contamination incident that affected 23 Chinese swimmers in 2021, and have discussed positive tests for clenbuterol involving Chinese athletes in 2022. Gasol described these reports as “controversial” and urged people to trust the integrity of WADA’s testing system.
“In my perspective, we are trying to make sure that everyone understands the work of WADA, respects it, and understands their process, trusting in their ability to keep our sports clean,” Gasol said. He called for unity and fairness in the treatment of all athletes, regardless of their nationality.
“Hopefully, this will not happen more often to any other athletes from any countries,” Gasol concluded, expressing his hope for equitable treatment and the well-being of athletes worldwide as they prepare for the upcoming Olympic Games.
