Pau Gasol sympathizes with Chinese swimmers, urges respect for WADA

Pau Gasol, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes Commission, on Friday described as "unfortunate" the frequent doping tests that Chinese swimmers have been subjected to, and urged respect for the authority of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and its testing system.

"There was absolutely nothing found [in tests], and I am not sure whether the measure [testing Chinese swimmers two or three times more than others] is right or not," Gasol said during a press conference at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and several international media outlets have published numerous reports, believed to be politically-motivated, since April, regarding a food contamination incident that affected 23 Chinese swimmers in 2021.

Those reports have been criticized as an attempt to undermine WADA's testing system, and recently the New York Times once again stirred public discontent toward Chinese athletes by misrepresenting positive tests for clenbuterol involving Chinese athletes in 2022.

Gasol described the American media reports as "controversial" and urged people to trust the top international anti-doping governing body.

"In my perspective, we are trying to make sure that everyone understands the work of WADA, and respects it and understands their process, trusting on their ability to keep our sports clean," Gasol stated.

The contentious reports by a number of media outlets added significant pressures for the Chinese swimming team competing in Paris.

Anti-doping organizations have tested each Chinese swimmer an average of 21 times since January 1. The number was significantly higher compared to the average of six times for their American counterparts and four times for those from Australia, swimming's governing body World Aquatics revealed on July 23.

Gasol, who represented the Spanish men's basketball team in five editions of the Olympics from Athens 2004 to Tokyo 2020, expressed sympathy for the situation of the Chinese swimmers and praised their cooperation with the doping tests.

"Multiple times in early 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," Gasol noted.

"Hopefully this will not happen more often to any other athletes from any countries," he concluded.