US Subpoenas World Aquatics Executive Director to Testify in Chinese Swimmers’ Doping Probe

The United States has initiated an investigation into a case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who participated in the 2021 Olympics despite testing positive for doping. World Aquatics confirmed on July 4 that its executive director, Brent Nowicki, has been subpoenaed by the U.S. government to testify as a witness in the probe, just weeks before the Paris Olympics. The FBI has neither confirmed nor denied the existence of the investigation. The investigation comes ahead of the Summer Olympics in Paris, where 11 of the Chinese swimmers involved will be competing. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) expressed disappointment over the U.S. investigation, stating that it has not been contacted for assistance. WADA reviewed the case and determined that there was no basis to challenge the contamination scenario that led to the swimmers testing positive for doping. The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party has called for further investigation into the matter under the Rodchenkov Act. WADA previously stated that the swimmers had tested positive for a banned substance due to contamination. The agency concluded that there was no concrete basis to challenge the contamination scenario. The Associated Press has contributed to this report.

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