Drug Free Sport New Zealand seeks more information on Chinese positives
Drug Free Sport New Zealand (DFSNZ) notes the recent media reports and statements regarding positive tests of Chinese swimmers in the lead up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
“At a time when confidence in the anti-doping system is being restored, it is of great concern that these allegations have now arisen and that they involve both a national anti-doping organisation and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) itself.
There are questions about the actions of the Chinese National Anti-Doping Authority that need to be answered. There are also questions about the oversight of WADA, the global regulatory body on which we all rely to maintain transparency and consistency.
We await further investigation and information, particularly in relation to the provisional suspension of athletes and the public reporting of violations – two important principles of anti-doping work.
New Zealand’s athletes have a right to expect a strong and transparent anti-doping system that is applied consistently to all athletes, regardless of their country of origin. Without this, we lose the spirit of sport, the fundamental principle of fair play, and the trust of athletes and our sports-loving public. We hold New Zealand athletes to very high standards of integrity and demand the same from our international counterparts.
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DFSNZ is New Zealand’s national anti-doping organisation, committed to protecting clean athletes and promoting a culture of clean sport. It supports athletes, coaches, and support personnel by educating and advocating for athletes, detecting and deterring doping, and engaging sporting communities in the fight for clean sport.
DFSNZ is a crown entity established under the New Zealand Sports and Drug Agency Act 1994 (replaced by the Sports Anti-Doping Act 2006). Under the Act, DFSNZ is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the World Anti-Doping Code in New Zealand. It is funded by the New Zealand Government and is accountable to the Minister for Sport and Recreation and the New Zealand Government.”