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By Rohith Nair
(Reuters) - Dutch swimmer Arno Kamminga described the case of the 23 Chinese swimmers testing positive for a banned drug as a "lose-lose situation" while also questioning how the investigation was handled by the authorities ahead of the Olympic Games in Paris.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirmed reports in April that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for TMZ (trimetazidine) -- a medication that increases blood flow to the heart -- before the Tokyo Olympics.
However, WADA accepted the findings of a Chinese investigation that this was due to substance contamination.
An independent investigation also ruled WADA did not mishandle or show favouritism while a World Aquatics audit concluded there was no mismanagement or cover-up by the governing body.
Kamminga, who won silver medals at the Tokyo Olympics in the 100m and 200m breaststroke, said that even if due process was followed, the fact that "they didn't tell anyone" about the positive tests until April was a bone of contention.
"Everyone is questioning it, so it's a lose-lose situation for everyone - for swimming lovers but also for the Chinese swimmers themselves. I think it's hard to judge or say anything without knowing everything," Kamminga told Reuters.
"The problem is the way in which it was handled. For them to just cover it up, not say anything instead of being up front and transparent with us, I think that's where the problem lies for most people.
"Whether they're positive or not, I don't know. I can't say anything about it. I hope I can trust WADA that the conclusion was right... I'm just disappointed in the way it was handled."
China's anti-doping agency (CHINADA) said the swimmers tested positive for an "extremely low concentration" of TMZ after inadvertently being exposed to the substance through contamination.
China's breaststroke powerhouse Qin Haiyang was one of the 23 swimmers named by The New York Times and German broadcaster ARD. The 25-year-old, who won three individual world championship golds last year, currently holds the 200m breaststroke world record.
Should Qin beat Kamminga to the gold medal in the 100m or the 200m, the Dutch swimmer said he is not sure if he would shake the Chinese swimmer's hand.
"I'll see how it goes. I'll see how people in the stands will react," Kamminga said.
"Of course, it's a bit hard. I've been training my whole life for this, sacrificing so much in life. I just want it to be an even playing field.
"I want everyone to be on the same level and I really hope he is as well. And when he wins a fair game, I will congratulate him, I've been beaten fair and square. But yeah, the situation is hard."
The Olympics get underway on July 26, with the swimming events starting a day later.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis)
