The International Swimming Federation (FINA) announced that its executive director, Brent Nowicki, has been ordered to testify as a witness in a U.S. criminal investigation regarding 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned substance in 2021 but were still allowed to compete. This news comes just weeks before the Paris Olympics, where 11 of the Chinese swimmers involved are scheduled to participate.
The House Committee on China requested on May 21 for the Justice Department and the FBI to investigate the case under federal law, which allows for inquiries into suspected doping conspiracies regardless of where they occurred. FINA confirmed that Nowicki was subpoenaed to testify in the investigation. The organization noted that Nowicki is working to schedule a meeting with the government, which may prevent the need for testimony before a Grand Jury.
FINA did not provide specific details about when and where Nowicki received his subpoena, nor did it disclose which office is handling the investigation. The FBI has not responded to requests for comment on the matter. Despite the positive tests of the Chinese swimmers for a banned heart medication prior to the Tokyo Olympics, they were allowed to compete with Chinese officials attributing the results to food contamination. The World Anti-Doping Agency accepted this explanation and has defended its handling of the case. The positive tests were only made public earlier this year after reports by the New York Times and German broadcaster ARD.
