#夏日生活打卡季#
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Text: Wu Xiansen◎
Editor|Wu Xiansen◎
Astound! The international swimming world has set off another storm, and the Chinese swimming team has been frequently "targeted"? Many Olympic champions are suspected of being treated unfairly, what kind of tricks are hidden behind it? A battle between fairness and honor is quietly unfolding underwater!
A storm is coming
On the eve of the Paris Olympics, the Chinese swimming team encountered unprecedented challenges.
The two ace players, Zhang Yufei and Qin Haiyang, spoke out one after another, revealing the troubles of frequent drug tests during the preparation for the competition.
This news is like a bombshell, causing an uproar in the sports circle.
Journalist's perspective
As a veteran sports journalist, I'm interested in it.
After digging deeper, I found that the story behind this was far more complex than I imagined.
Let's dive underwater together and uncover the truth about this undercurrent of international swimming.
The dilemma of the butterfly queen
Zhang Yufei is the "butterfly queen" of the Chinese swimming team, and has won two golds and two silvers at the Tokyo Olympics.
However, at a critical moment in her preparation for the Paris Olympics, she encountered unprecedented troubles.
It is reported that since arriving in Paris, Zhang Yufei has had to undergo drug tests almost every day, even in the early hours of the morning.
This severely affected her rest and training.
What happened to Qin Haiyang
At the same time, another Olympic champion, Qin Haiyang, is in a similar predicament.
He said in an interview that frequent drug tests have seriously interfered with the pace of preparation and directly affected his mental and physical state.
The two top players are not alone.
Amazing data
It is understood that the Chinese swimming team was tested as many as 7 times in 10 days.
The figure is so staggering that even the United Kingdom media can't stand it, openly questioning whether this practice is fair.
Dig deeper
So why is the Chinese swimming team subjected to such intensive drug testing?
Is there a pertinence behind this? Let's find out.
The rise of the Chinese swimming team in recent years has indeed unnerved some countries.
From Sun Yang to Zhang Yufei, Chinese swimmers have performed well on the international stage, breaking the long-standing monopoly of some countries.
This will inevitably arouse suspicion and dissatisfaction among some people.
Rule loopholes
The regulations of the International Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) do give inspectors a great deal of discretion.
They can conduct more frequent check-ups on certain athletes or teams at their own discretion.
This is meant to ensure the fairness of the game, but it can be abused in practice.
Double standard?
Furthermore, we have to mention a sensitive topic – double standards.
Interestingly, when we turn our attention to athletes in certain Western countries, we find that they seem to enjoy very different treatment.
Hackers revealed
Remember that blockbuster hack in 2016?
Russia hacker group hacked into the WADA database and revealed that in 2015 alone, 653 athletes in the United States applied for therapeutic use waivers, of which 402 were approved, a whopping 60%.
What does this mean? Meaning that these athletes can legally use some drugs that should be banned!
Miracle Asthma
What's even more jaw-dropping is the "magic asthma" of "Flying Fish" Phelps.
After retiring from the sport, the swimming legend was miraculously cured of his long-standing asthma!
Isn't that a coincidence?
Australian Insomnia Team
On the other side of the ocean, Australia had "collective insomnia".
Why? This is because drugs used to treat insomnia may contain stimulant ingredients.
These athletes have thus been nicknamed the "Australia Insomnia Team".
Anger and helplessness
Seeing this, do you feel as angry and helpless as I do?
The same athletes, why is there such a disparity in treatment?
How can this talk about fair competition?
The pressure is high
Returning to the experience of the Chinese swimming team, frequent drug tests not only affected the rest and training of the athletes, but also brought them huge psychological pressure.
Think about it, if you had to face blood draws, urine tests, and even being woken up in the middle of the night to get checked, would you still be in good shape?
Grades are affected
This pressure is already starting to affect the players.
In the case of Qin, the once in-form player has made a mistake in recent matches, which he himself admits has to do with various distractions in the preparation process.
What to do
So, how do we deal with this situation?
The Chinese swimming team and relevant departments should actively communicate and express our demands to international organizations.
Frequent drug tests, while well-intentioned, should also take into account the legitimate needs of athletes.
We can recommend a more targeted and random check before the competition, rather than frequent harassment of athletes.
Call for fairness
We should call for a fairer and more transparent international anti-doping system.
Athletes from all countries should be subject to the same level of scrutiny, and there should be no double standards.
At the same time, therapeutics and drug exemptions (THEAPs) also need to be more regulated to avoid abuse.
Technological improvements
We also need to improve our own technical skills.
By continuously improving the accuracy and effectiveness of drug tests, tests can be completed in a shorter time and with less disruption to athletes.
Stick to your heart
Finally, and most importantly, we must insist on sportsmanship and speak with strength.
No matter how the outside world doubts, as long as we have a clear conscience, we should stand on the field with our heads held high.
I believe that one day, our efforts will be recognized by the whole world.
Future outlook
Looking ahead, I think this turmoil could be a turning point in the international sports world.
It exposes many of the problems of the existing anti-doping system and points the way for future reforms.
We look forward to a fairer, more scientific and more humane international sports environment.
epilogue
In this contest of fairness and honor, the Chinese swimming team is undoubtedly on the cusp.
But I believe that as long as we stick together and stick to our principles, we will be able to weather the storm and achieve greater success at the Paris Olympics.
Let's all hope that in the near future, when our athletes stand on the top podium, no one will question their results, because it will be a perfect proof of strength and sweat.
What do you think about this topic? How do you think the international sports community should balance anti-doping and athlete protection? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section and let's discuss this thought-provoking topic together.