Chinese media and netizens have reacted angrily to public doubts over swimming sensation Ye Shiwen, whose two gold medals in the London Olympics sparked questions about illegal drug use.
The 16-year-old swimmer has won two gold medals—the individual medley at 200 and 400 meters—and has denied any use of banned drugs in the face of concerns raised by U.S. swimming coach John Leonard after her "unbelievable" performances.
The International Olympics Committee (IOC) and the world swimming body FINA have both since said Ye is clean.
"Back when Michael Phelps won eight gold medals in the Beijing Olympics, was he the target of such suspicions?" wrote user @wuhaoyingzi on the popular microblogging service Sina Weibo. "This is a shame in front of the whole world."
"If the media only ask Chinese athletes, and they don't ask athletes from other countries, then obviously there is a problem with China's international image," wrote user @nuanyangyangdehongshaomeiguiweibodaren.
But the user added: "If this isn't the case, then why should [Ye] be the only one to escape such questions?"
"Foreigners have no tolerance," wrote user @Fighting_zhulongcaozZ. "Why is it OK for one's own compatriots to win without suspicion, but for others to come under suspicion?"
Outdated view
The English-language Global Times newspaper, which has strong links to the ruling Chinese Communist Party, accused Westerners of continuing to perpetuate an outdated view of China.
"The West still judges China with an old mentality, and is petty about the progress China makes," the paper said in an editorial on Wednesday. State broadcaster CCTV also spoke in Ye's support on its noon news program.
Ye's father, Ye Qingsong, told Chinese media that Western media are "always arrogant," while several Olympic organizers in London have also defended the Chinese swimmer.
FINA, the international body that governs swimming, said there was no evidence to support suggestions that Ye had used illegal drugs to enhance her performance.
"Following recent comments reported in the media, FINA would like to clearly state that there is no factual basis to support this kind of insinuation related to the performances of the Chinese swimmer, Shiwen Ye," the statement read.
"This athlete has fulfilled all of the FINA Doping Control obligations, having been tested on four occasions in the last twelve months, including twice before the Chinese Olympic Trials in 2012," FINA said.
'Absolutely not'
Ye herself replied: "Absolutely not," when asked if she used drugs to boost performance, saying that her achievements were the result of hard work and long years of training.
China spends billions of dollars annually on its state sports development budget, but the Soviet-inspired program has been criticized for ignoring the general public.
Government talent scouts handpick promising youngsters at an early age, taking them away from their families to a life of permanent training and discipline, according to Chinese sports journalists, the athletes' families, and former top officials.
Reported by Luisetta Mudie.