Drug Tests Possible For Swimmers

Swimming’s governing body said Tuesday it may carry out drug tests on potential Olympic swimmers before next year’s Games in Atlanta.

The international swimming federation, FINA, said it was looking into the possibility of asking national federations for a list of their likely Olympic competitors.

Any swimmer on the list may undergo out-of-competition testing prior to the Olympics, FINA said.

Such a system was among the demands of the World Swimming Coaches Association and Australian gold medalist Kieren Perkins. Their proposal was aimed principally at Chinese swimmers, who have been under a drug cloud since seven tested positive at last year’s Asian Games in Hiroshima, Japan.

China was banned from the recent Pan Pacific Games because of its poor record on doping.

FINA will hold a special congress in November in Rio de Janeiro, where member federations can vote on new anti-doping rules, including increased sanctions against guilty athletes and federations.