The International Swimming Federation said its executive director has been subpoenaed to testify as a witness in a U.S. criminal investigation into the doping scandal of 23 Chinese swimmers who were allowed to compete despite all testing positive for a banned substance in 2021.
World Aquatics confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday that Brent Nowicki “has received a subpoena from the United States government.”
In May, a House committee investigating China asked the Justice Department and the FBI to launch an investigation under U.S. federal law into allegations of conspiracy to commit doping, even if the acts occurred outside U.S. territory.
Chinese swimmers were allowed to compete in the Tokyo Olympics despite testing positive for a banned heart drug. Chinese officials alleged the athletes got the results from contaminated food, an explanation that was accepted by the World Anti-Doping Agency. But the organization has had to defend its highly controversial decision.
Eleven of these swimmers are due to represent China at the Paris Games.
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