Zhang Yufei worries how swimming rivals see her over China doping storm

PARIS - China's Zhang Yufei worried about how her rivals saw her after she led the women's 100m butterfly heats at the Paris Olympics on July 27 with a doping controversy hanging heavy over the meet.

The

case of 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive

for a performance-enhancing drug before Tokyo 2021 has cast a long shadow over these Games, with some of them competing in the Paris pool.

"I competed very well with friends from other countries. Now I come to participate in the Olympic Games. I'm very worried that my good friends look at me with different eyes," Zhang told reporters.

"That they do not want to compete with me or watch my races. I'm more worried about the French people. I think the Chinese do not deserve this," she added, speaking through a translator at the La Defense Arena.

China's swim team at Paris includes 11 of the 23 athletes reported to have tested positive by the New York Times and German broadcaster ARD in April.

The World Anti-Doping Agency Wada has not named any of the swimmers. Zhang, according to the reports, is one of those on the list.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said this month it was a "non-existent case that the US keeps selling" with the aim of "degrading" Chinese athletes and "obstructing their participation in the Paris Olympics".

Zhang said all of the Chinese swimmers in Paris had been tested 20-30 times in two months, and three to four times a week on average.

"Chinese athletes would not want to destroy all the hard work they've put in over the years (because of) doping," she added.

"I hope people do not have tainted vision... I hope everyone will be objective."

Zhang won her heat in a best time of 56.50 seconds, with Japan's Mizuki Hirai second fastest in 56.71 and Torri Huske of the United States qualifying in 56.72.

World record holder Gretchen Walsh was fourth fastest in 56.75 and Australia's Emma McKeon fifth overall in 56.79. Reigning Olympic champion Margaret MacNeil was seventh. REUTERS