Geneva-based sportswriter Graham Dunbar had been keeping a close eye on the story of the 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for a banned substance in 2021 yet were allowed to continue competing after Chinese authorities blamed the positive tests on food contamination. The New York Times broke the initial story earlier this year, triggering a debate about the World Anti-Doping Agency’s handling of the case. Thanks to years of contact-building in sports politics, Dunbar received a tipoff that US investigators had launched a criminal investigation under a 2020 law that allows them to probe doping cases even if they’ve happened outside of the U.S. He was able to get on-record confirmation from the world swimming federation that one of their top officials had received a subpoena to testify in the investigation. Dunbar worked with Eddie Pells in the U.S. to flesh out the details and reach out to the FBI for comment.
Dunbar’s scoop was picked up by AP customers and members around the world. The New York Times matched the story later that day but gave AP credit for being the first to report it.
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