Report of the Anti-Doping Audit Review Committee to the World Aquatics Bureau / Anti-Doping Audi Review Committee. - Lausanne, Switzerland : World Aquatics, 2024
On 3 May 2024, the World Aquatics Bureau established an anti‐doping audit review committee (the Committee) to review the matter involving 23 Chinese swimmers whose samples collected in 2021 were found to have trimetazidine (TMZ) present in them (the TMZ Case).
The Committee was tasked with examining the processes and procedures employed by World Aquatics, previously known as FINA, in addressing not only the TMZ Case, but all doping cases under its jurisdiction. The objective of this review was to provide World Aquatics with recommendations that could fortify its anti‐doping protocols for the future and ensure that its systems and controls are best‐in‐class.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Committee was not tasked to review if CHINADA’s decision not to sanction the 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive to TMZ in 2021 was right. Similarly, the Committee was not tasked with reviewing whether CHINADA handled this matter in accordance with the World Anti‐Doping Code. No forensic examination or investigation of those issues took place in preparing this report.
This report represents the culmination of rigorous examination, thoughtful deliberation, and collaborative effort undertaken by the members of the Committee and the Aquatics community. Hundreds of pages of documentation were examined, a summary of the actions taken by FINA in 2021 in relation to this case, and the operating procedures of World Aquatics effective in 2021 (and still currently in force). The Committee also consulted with more than twenty Aquatic stakeholders, including international‐level swimmers and coaches, National Federations, the International Testing Agency (ITA), the Executive Director of World Aquatics, the Athletes Committee of World Aquatics, a member of the Anti‐Doping Advisory Body of the Aquatics Integrity Unit, a senior representative of the United States Anti‐Doping Agency (USADA), and other leading anti‐doping organisations.
Through this report, the Committee wishes to provide a comprehensive assessment of the processes involved and to offer recommendations that, once implemented, will assist in strengthening the fight against doping in Aquatic sports.
