The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirmed reports that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for a banned drug before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but it accepted the country's findings that this was due to substance contamination.

Tokyo

Chinese Swimmers Achieve Olympic Success Amid Doping Inquiry

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has confirmed cases of 23 Chinese swimmers testing positive for a banned substance prior to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Despite this, WADA accepted the explanation from China that the positive tests resulted from substance contamination, not intentional doping.

According to WADA, the drug found in the athletes' systems was trimetazidine (TMZ), a medication commonly used to treat heart conditions. This discovery was made months before the COVID-delayed Olympics, which took place in July 2021. China’s anti-doping agency reported the incident to WADA in June 2021, attributing the positive tests to inadvertent exposure through contamination. 

WADA stated that it could not refute the possibility of contamination being the source of the positive tests. Consequently, the athletes were considered to have no fault or negligence, and no appeal was made against the Chinese decision. This stands in contrast to the usual harsh penalties for doping offenses, which can include bans of two to four years or even life for repeated offenses.

At the Tokyo Olympics, China's 30-member swimming team secured six medals, among them three golds. World Aquatics, formerly known as FINA, the international federation for water sports, expressed confidence in the thorough and professional handling of the doping cases. 

The situation could lead to increased scrutiny of Chinese athletes in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics, as China is a strong contender in swimming. Over the past 30 years, several Chinese swimmers have faced bans for doping. The Chinese anti-doping agency and the Chinese Swimming Association have yet to respond to inquiries about the matter.



Chinese swimmers won Olympic golds after positive tests

23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for a banned drug before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. That's according to the World Anti-Doping Agency, or WADA, on Saturday. However, it has accepted China's findings that this was due to substance contamination. Multiple media reports said the swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine, or TMZ, found in heart medication months before the COVID-delayed July 2021 Games began. WADA said in a statement that it was notified on June 2021 of China's anti-doping agency's decision to accept that the swimmers had tested positive after inadvertently being exposed to the drug through contamination. The statement added it ultimately concluded it was not in a position to disprove the possibility that contamination was the source of TMZ and the athletes would be held to have no fault or negligence. Based on external counsel advice, an appeal of the Chinese decision was not warranted. China's 30-member swimming team won six medals at the Tokyo Games, including three golds. World Aquatics said it was confident the positive tests were handled diligently and professionally. Athletes who fail doping tests are usually subject to bans of two to four years for a first offence and life for a second. Tightened scrutiny could now be placed on China before this year's Paris Olympics, where the Asian country is expected to contend for more medals. Multiple Chinese swimmers have been banned in the last 30 years for being involved in doping cases. China's anti-doping agency and the Chinese Swimming Association did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

Mexican authorities say three bodies have been found in an area where two Australian brothers and their American travel companion are missing. It follows the arrest of three people in relation to their disappearance.

Baja California

Bodies found in search for missing Perth brothers

China has launched an uncrewed spacecraft on a nearly two-month mission to retrieve rocks and soil from the far side of the moon, the first country to make such an ambitious attempt.

Wenchang

China launches mission to far side of the moon

Britain's opposition Labour Party won a parliamentary seat in northern England on Friday (May 3) and control of several councils, inflicting heavy losses on the governing Conservatives to pile more pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

London

U.K.'s Labour claims big early win over Conservatives

Turkey has announced that it is halting trade with Israel, worth $7 billion a year, until a permanent ceasefire and humanitarian aid are secured in Gaza. Israel denounced the decision as breaking trade agreements.

Ankara

Turkey to stop trade with Israel until Gaza ceasefire

Media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders warned of declining government support for press freedom as it unveiled its annual world rankings on Friday, highlighting Argentina among the countries where the situation has deteriorated.

Paris

States doing less to support press freedom, says watchdog

Arizona's Democratic governor signed a bill overturning an 1864 law banning abortion, a month after the state's supreme court said the Civil War-era rule was valid.

Arizona

Arizona governor signs bill repealing 1864 abortion ban

U.S. President Joe Biden said that both freedom of speech and the rule of law must be respected in protests at college campuses over Israel's war in Gaza. In response to a reporter's question, Biden said that the campus protests had not forced him to reconsider his policies in the Middle East.

Washington

Biden breaks silence on protests at University Campuses

From suspensions to expulsions to criminal charges, college students across the U.S. involved in these pro-Palestinian protests could face life-changing consequences. Some are demanding amnesty for these protesters.

New York

More than 1,000 student protesters arrested across U.S.

English voters are heading to polling stations to pick mayors, councilors and a new lawmaker in the last electoral test for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before a national vote later this year.

Voters head to polls in last test for U.K.'s Sunak

The US State Department accused Russia of having used a chemical weapon against Ukrainian forces in violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention, while also announcing fresh sanctions against Moscow. In addition to the chemical agent chloropicrin, Russia also used "riot control agents (tear gas) as a method of warfare in Ukraine, also in violation of the CWC," the department said in a factsheet.

Zaporizhzhia

Ukraine Invasion

U.S. accuses Russia of using chemical weapons in Ukraine

There are grave concerns for Perth brothers Jake and Callum Robinson who are missing on a surf trip in Mexico's Baja region. The pair have failed to arrive at their accommodation and are not responding to contact from their families.

Council of the City of Sydney

Grave fears for brothers missing on Mexico surf trip

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has kept open the prospect of tax incentives in the budget as business warned that changes to foreign investment laws. It comes amid criticism that budget spending could prompt further inflation and prompt rate rises.

Government hints at further tax incentives in Budget

Colombian President Gustavo Petro says his country will break diplomatic relations with Israel. He's criticised Israel's conduct since the start of the war on Gaza. Petro requested to join South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide.

Bogotá

Israel-Gaza War

Colombia ends diplomatic relations with Israel

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, pushing to get more aid into Gaza, while urging Hamas to accept a deal that would halt fighting and bring some hostages home from the enclave.

Jerusalem

Blinken pushes for sustained aid into Gaza during Israel trip

Police in Georgia fired teargas and rubber bullets at protesters demonstrating against a bill that would require organizations – including media and NGOs – that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as agents "pursuing the interests of a foreign power." The bill has been dubbed the "Russian law" by its detractors.

Tbilisi

Thousands protest against Georgia's 'foreign influence' bill

A diplomatic push is underway to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, with the U.S. exerting pressure on Hamas to agree to Israel's terms. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to attack Rafah in southern Gaza, whether there's a ceasefire or not.

Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah 'with or without' ceasefire deal

Qantas has apologised to customers after its app exposed personal passenger data. The airline blames a technical disruption and says the data breach was not a cyber security incident.

Qantas app data breach exposes customer data

The International Court of Justice has ruled against issuing emergency measures over German arms sales to Israel as requested by Nicaragua, which had argued that there was a serious risk of genocide in Gaza amid Israel’s assault on the Palestinian territory.

The Hague

ICJ rejects measures over German arms exports to Israel

New York police have entered Columbia University and arrested protesters barricaded inside a building who have been calling on the New York school to divest itself from companies associated with Israel.

Police enter Columbia University, arrest protesters

A smiling and healthy-looking King Charles returned to public duties on Tuesday (April 30) for the first time since he was diagnosed in February with cancer, paying a visit to a treatment center for the disease in London.

King Charles returns to public duties, visits cancer center

A 14-year-old boy is dead and multiple people injured after a daylight sword attack in Hainault, in east London. The alleged attacker tasered and arrested by Police shortly afterwards.

Hainault

Teenage boy killed in London sword attack

Brittany Higgins has failed in a bid to delay a defamation trial brought against her by Senator Linda Reynolds over social media posts made in July last year. Fiancé David Sharaz, also named in the case, calling for the Senator to drop the case.

Canberra

Brittany Higgins fails in bid to delay defamation trial

Since taking office four months ago, Argentina's new president Javier Milei has slashed public employment in an effort to cut the country's deficit. So far, 24,000 people have been let go, and Milei has said he wants that figure to hit 70,000, about 10 percent of overall government employees.

Buenos Aires

Argentina's Milei slashes 24,000 government jobs

A Russian missile attack on an educational institution in a popular seafront park in the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa killed at least five people and injured 32, local officials said. Odesa has been a frequent target of Russian missile and drone attacks, particular port infrastructure.

Odesa

Russian missile attack kills five in Ukraine's Odesa

Scotland's leader Humza Yousaf resigned, further opening the door to the UK opposition Labour Party regaining ground in its former Scottish heartlands during a national election expected to be held later this year.

Edinburgh

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf quits

A 17-year-old girl charged with the stabbing murder of her 10-year-old sister in a suburb of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales will remain in custody.

Lake Macquarie

Teenager faces court over murder of 10-year-old sister

Columbia University began suspending pro-Palestinian activists who refused to dismantle a tent encampment on its New York City campus after the Ivy League school declared a stalemate in talks seeking to end the polarizing protest.