July 25th 2024.
Zac Stubblety-Cook, the Olympic swimming champion from Australia, has his sights set on winning another gold medal in Paris. However, amidst the recent doping scandal involving China, Stubblety-Cook has hinted that he may use his platform to make a statement.
At the Tokyo Olympics, Stubblety-Cook not only secured a gold medal in the 200m breaststroke, but also set a new Olympic record. But as he prepares for the Paris games, he faces a formidable opponent in China's Qin Haiyang. Last year, Haiyang broke Stubblety-Cook's world record at the World Aquatics Championships, causing concern for the Australian swimmer.
What makes this competition even more contentious is the fact that Haiyang was one of 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned heart medication just seven months before the Tokyo Olympics. Despite this, he was still allowed to compete, with Chinese authorities claiming that their team hotel's kitchen was contaminated. The explanation was accepted by the World Anti-Doping Agency, but not everyone was convinced.
In fact, at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships, Australian swimmer Mack Horton made a statement by refusing to shake hands with his Chinese rival Sun Yang on the podium. Sun Yang had previously served a three-month ban in 2014 for testing positive for a banned stimulant. This incident sparked discussions about the International Olympic Committee's rule 50, which prohibits athletes from staging protests on podiums.
When asked about his stance on potential protests, Stubblety-Cook stated that he will make a decision "on the day." He acknowledged the consequences of rule 50, but also mentioned the possibility of seeing protests in other events as well. As a clean athlete himself, Stubblety-Cook hopes that his competitors will also abide by the rules.
During a press conference, Stubblety-Cook expressed his disappointment with the anti-doping system, stating that it has "failed" clean athletes. He emphasized his belief in clean sport and hopes for a fair competition in the upcoming games. For him, it's not about which country the athletes come from, but rather the flaws in the system that need to be addressed. As he prepares for the games, Stubblety-Cook remains focused on what he can control – being a clean athlete – and hopes that his competitors will do the same.
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