MONTREAL, May 14, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - The World Anti-Doping Agency announced
Monday it would hold an extraordinary meeting this week to discuss the case
of 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a prescription heart drug.

The virtual meeting of its foundation board was scheduled for Friday at 7 am
local time (1100 GMT).

"The objective of the Board meeting is to provide members with the
opportunity to be further informed on this important matter by WADA experts
and to be able to ask any questions that they may have," the agency said in a
statement.

WADA came under fire in April after it was revealed that the Chinese swimmers
tested positive for trimetazidine -- which can enhance performance -- ahead
of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

The swimmers were not suspended or sanctioned after WADA accepted the
explanation of Chinese authorities that the results were caused by food
contamination at a hotel where they had stayed.

The head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Travis Tygart, has
called the situation a "potential cover-up" with the positive tests never
made public at the time.

WADA has invited an independent prosecutor, former Swiss public prosecutor
Eric Cottier, to review the global anti-doping body's handling of the case.

International Olympic Committee boss Thomas Bach has backed WADA in its
handling of the case, telling AFP also that the Chinese swimmers could
compete at the Paris Olympics this year if cleared.