China's Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) on Thursday refuted a false report, saying that regular procedures in anti-doping cannot be regarded as "covering up".
The report said that China's Swimming Association (CSA) has been under investigation for helping to cover up five doping cases, two in last October and other three early this year.
"Our laboratories have been linked with the Anti-Doping Managing System of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Every testing result by us will be automatically uploaded to WADA's database, so WADA can be informed of positive cases at first hand," said Zhao Jian, deputy director of CHINADA.
According to Zhao, "covering up" in the report may refer to the failure to disclose the athletes' information. But anti-doping efforts need some time in sample B testing, investigation and hearings, before which relevant athletes' information has to be protected.
"We will release the results and punishments 20 days after relevant association made their respecitve punishments. All is under regulations, and there is no 'covering up' in dealing with this," commented Zhao.
The CSA announced that six Chinese swimmers failed their doping tests during the year 2015-2016. Three of the six swimmers were tested positive for Clenbuterol in out-competition tests, namely Chinese Navy's Zhao Ying, Wang Lizhuo and Tianjin's An Jiabao.
The other three swimmers were tested positive for Hydrochlorothiazide in out-competition tests in January, 2016. All gave up sample B tests but applied for hearings.
"CSA announced six doping cases, but only half of them has been made public. The other three's information needs to be protected before all procedures are gone through," said Zhao.
