China's struggles at swimming worlds raise questions
(AP)
Updated: 2005-08-01 09:18

China has denied any wrongdoing. Breaststroker Luo Xuejuan said some of her teammates geared their training to be in peak condition for the national championships in October, rather than the worlds.

"Some swimmers are preparing for the national games," she said. "They needed to choose this championship or the national games."

Luo said events such as the world championships don't carry nearly as much importance for the Chinese.

"This is a normal result for the team," she said. "The Chinese team is making progress every day. We don't want to be disappointed at Beijing."

Jack Bauerle, the U.S. women's coach, said he's seen nothing to indicate China is doing anything illegal.

"Sure, it raises a little suspicion," he said. "But I'm sure we've had performances in the past that people questioned. I just think as the host country, all their efforts are going into being the best they can possibly be in 2008."

Mustapha Larfaoui, president of FINA, the governing body of swimming, avoided singling out China in the war on doping but acknowledged that all sports are facing a tough fight to ensure fair competitions.

"We're in a struggle that's impossible to win," Larfaoui said through an interpreter. "We're going to win some struggles, but we're not going to win the war. The labs are working very hard to come up with new drugs.

"Can we ensure total cleanliness? No. I can't commit to that. But we're using all the controls we can to ensure the sport remains clean."

In all fairness, there are plenty of promising Chinese swimmers rising through the FINA rankings, particularly on the female side.

In the 800-meter freestyle, for instance, the country's top-ranked woman is only No. 10 in the world, but eight of her teammates are in the top 50. There's similar depth in the 100 backstroke, in which Chinese women hold eight of the top 37 positions.

"I think they could have been better," Bauerle said. "But I know they're going to be better in 2008, no matter what we saw here."

The World Anti-Doping Agency plans to work with Chinese officials to ensure a solid anti-doping program is in place leading up to the 2008 Olympics. WADA chairman Dick Pound doesn't think the host country would risk the embarrassment of a major drug scandal at its showcase to the world.

Bauerle agreed.

"China had their history," he said. "They know that. They don't want anything else to go wrong."

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