Chinese Swimmer Lands In Hot Water

While a Chinese swimmer and coach appeared before a doping panel to determine their punishments for trying to import a banned growth hormone, American Troy Dumais won a silver medal in diving Saturday at the World Swimming Championships.

Swimmer Yuan Yuan and coach Zhou Zewen appeared before a panel convened by FINA, amateur swimming’s governing board, to investigate the hormone trafficking.

Tests confirmed that Yuan was caught trying to import a banned growth hormone. U.S. coach Jon Urbanchek said that Yuan was holding enough drugs to keep her country’s swim team supplied for the weeklong championships. He said the hormone was six times more potent than the testosterone-based anabolic steroids.

Yuan and Zhou, who have been ordered home by the China Swimming Association, will remain in Australia until the panel concludes its hearing. FINA was expected to make an announcement about the hearings today.

Meanwhile, Dumais, competing in his first world championship, finished behind China’s Yu Zhuocheng in the 1-meter springboard diving competition. Holger Schlepps of Germany took the bronze.