IOC has 'full confidence' in Wada on China report

The independent report was released just weeks before the start of the Paris Olympics, which begins on 26 July

The International Olympic Committee says it has "full confidence" in the World Anti-Doping Agency following a report into the handling of 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned substance.

Wada cleared the swimmers to compete at the Tokyo Olympics and Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier's interim report released this week cleared the agency of any bias.

The report also found it was reasonable for Wada not to appeal against the decision by the China Anti-Doping Agency (Chinada) to not punish the athletes.

The swimmers, 11 of whom have been selected for this month's Paris Olympics, tested positive for heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ) at a training camp seven months before the delayed Games in 2021.

"Based on this report, the IOC reaffirms its full confidence in Wada and its leadership, who have implemented a number of initiatives that have strengthened the system in recent years," the IOC said in a statement on Thursday.

"The only remaining questions are therefore procedural ones. The IOC took note of the fact that Wada has already committed to addressing any such procedural recommendations that may be included in the final report."

Chinada determined the swimmers had unintentionally ingested the substance because of contamination.

The case has drawn criticism from athletes and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada), whose chief executive Travis Tygart suggested a cover-up - a claim Wada rejected as "completely false and defamatory".

The IOC, however, has called for all "stakeholders" to respect Wada's "supreme authority" in the fight against doping.

"This respect forms the basis on which Wada was founded by the governments of the world and the Olympic Movement," the IOC said.

"This respect is essential for any fair international competition."

Cottier's full report is expected in the coming weeks.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is also investigating the case, which Wada said on Thursday it was "disappointed" to learn.