China: Swimmer Chen Xinyi tests positive at Rio Olympics

A Chinese swimmer is the first athlete to test positive for banned substances at the Rio Olympics.

Australia’s Mack Horton called Sun Yang, China’s most successful swimmer, a “drugs cheat” this week, setting off a social media firestorm in China.

The Chinese Swimming Association said that Xinyi has given her B sample for further testing by the IOC.

China’s Chen Xinyi, the 4th place finisher at these Olympics in the women’s 100 fly, was a no show for this morning’s 50 freestyle prelims.

Xinhua quoted a spokesperson of the Chinese Swimming Association as saying that the association is firmly opposed to the use of stimulants, and will actively cooperate with the global sports arbitration court in its investigation.

CAS said it would continue to consider the case and would issue a final ruling “before the end of the Games”.

Doping has been a major concern in the Rio Games.

However, the Chinese government has always denied state-sponsored use of performance-enhancing drugs, saying it takes a zero-tolerance approach to doping.

The dark spectre of doping fell on the Rio Games, as it was announced that two Olympic athletes failed their doping tests.

The athletics starts today without Bulgarian steeplechaser Silviya Danekov who tested positive for the blood booster EPO days after her arrival in Brazil.

A spokeswoman for China’s national anti-doping agency said she had no additional information on the status of Chen’s case, the AP reported.

She tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic, on Sunday, it said.

Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, in Rio for the games, told reporters “rugby has always lifted the spirit and always brought us together”. With track and field set to begin as swimming wraps up, it will be interesting if any other doping scandals break out in swimming.