A Chinese swimmer who won a bronze medal in the butterfly at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games has claimed his innocence in his country’s doping scandal, blaming even American “swimming emperor” Michael Phelps (39).
Zhang Yufei of China won the bronze medal in the 200-meter butterfly final with a time of 2 minutes, 05.09 seconds at the La Défense swimming pool in Paris, France, on Tuesday (Sept. 2).
According to APTN, Zhang said, “We are innocent. The whole process has been clarified by the International Swimming Federation,” Zhang said, defending herself against allegations of doping in her country’s swimming.
Ahead of the Paris Olympics, U.S. and Australian media reported that “23 Chinese athletes competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics despite testing positive in a doping test seven months before the Games began,” and that “the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) failed to judge the matter fairly.”
Zhang Yufei’s name is also on the list of 23 people suspected of doping.
Zhang Yufei said, “Athletes from all countries, including Chinese athletes, should be tested for doping. The number of tests for all athletes is increasing,” Zhang said, insisting that Chinese athletes are diligent in their doping tests.
Commenting on Fan Zhanle’s world record time of 46.40 in the 100-meter freestyle the previous day, beating second-placed Kyle Charmouth (AUS 47.48) by a whopping 1.08 seconds, Zhang said, “He had already clocked sub-47 seconds several times before this race. It’s not like he came out of nowhere,” he said, emphasizing that Pan Zhanle, like many Chinese swimmers, has been tested for doping multiple times since he entered the pool.
Fan Zhanle was not included in the 23-person list of Chinese swimming’s “doping scandal”.
Zhang Yufei even invoked the “emperor” himself, Phelps, to express his frustration.
“Why should Chinese athletes be suspected when they perform well,” Zhang Yufei complained, adding, “Why has Phelps, who has won seven or eight gold medals, never been suspected or challenged, and why have many athletes who have been competing for the top positions not been accused of doping?” 토토사이트 추천
