The International Swimming Federation (FINA) today confirmed that the China Swimming Association has sanctioned 19 year old Liuyuxin Li with a four year ban, after the freestyle and butterfly swimmer returned an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for erythropoietin (EPO) in an out of competition test conducted by the China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA). A four year ban was also imposed on the swimmer’s coach, Guoming Xiong. FINA said that Li’s suspension will run from 3 February 2017, the date of her provisional suspension.

Last week, it was reported that Xue Yinxian, who served as chief medical doctor to the Chinese gymnastics team during the 1980s, had applied for political asylum in Germany. Ahead of the London 2012 Olympics, Yinxian alleged that State-sponsored doping had taken place within Chinese sport – specifically swimming – during the 1980s and 1990s. It was reported that Yinxian, her son and his wife had arrived in Germany last week, citing official persecution linked to her allegations.