Australia’s Dolphins Silenced on Issues Surrounding Chinese Swim Team
Grant Hackett, an Olympic champion, commented on undergoing tests for doping and drug several times. He further stated that he was not sure the same could be said about the Chinese swim team that shares the same facility with the Dolphins, the Australian Olympic swim team.
Australia’s Olympic hopeful, Thomas Fraser-Holmes, had an in pool dummy spit getting out mid-training session presumably for being sick to death training with the Chinese swim team and the double standards present.
Swimming Australia tells Dolphins to Keep Mum about Issues Regarding Foreign Competition
Swimming Australia has advised the members of the Dolphins not to talk about their competition negatively and was encouraged to relay their own training and journey instead. Both the members and coaches of the Dolphins have been advised not to discuss issues about the sport and were reminded about the potential impacts not only on their future sponsorship deals, but also on deals that may include Swimming Australia or its partners.
Sun Yang was found guilty of using banded substances in 2014. Photo by AP
Meanwhile, Libby Trickett, Australia’s swimming golden girl, believes that Dolphin’s expression of their discontentment and thoughts about the issues in the sport was a highly important feat. She further stated that foreign swimmers should be subjected to the same treatment and process as Australia’s athletes. About 100 Chinese swimmers are currently training in Australia.
Golden girl Libby Trickett. Photo by: Simon Alekna
My Thoughts on Swimming Australia’s Actions
I personally believe that Swimming Australia should open their eyes on the issue. The situation is not only lacking moral fortitude but also sending an impression to the international swimming community that Australia turns a blind eye to drugs in the field of swimming.
Swimming Australia should echo the statements made by our athletes regardless of whether or not these international athletes take in drugs for medical reasons. At the end of the day, we are all responsible for our individual actions and because these swimmers are part of a national team, they don’t see a regular GP. The team doctor should be fully aware of medications that swimmers should or should not take. This leads us to another question: Where is the ASADA?
ASADA has always been quick when testing foreign tennis stars playing in Australia but swimmers from other countries seem to have a hall pass. Swimming Australia has done great things for the sport, but I fear they may have dropped the ball for this case.
A big thanks to The Daily Telegraph newspaper for shining a light on the issue.