How Hospital CCTV Cleared Jianan in Doping Case
China’s world champion long jumper Wang Jianan has been officially cleared of doping charges after hospital CCTV footage proved decisive in his case.
The 29-year-old, who made history in 2022 by becoming the first Asian man to win world long jump gold with his 8.36m leap in Oregon, failed an out-of-competition test in November 2024. The sample showed traces of terbutaline, a medication commonly prescribed for asthma.
The China Anti-Doping Agency (Chinada) determined that Wang had passively inhaled the substance while accompanying a relative to hospital for nebuliser treatment. Concluding that he bore no fault or negligence, Chinada ruled that the athlete would not face a ban.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) reviewed the decision, examining hospital security footage and patient records to verify Wang’s movements before the test. An independent scientific expert was consulted, who confirmed that “a passive transfer of the substance to the athlete could not be excluded.” The AIU added that there was “nothing suspicious” about the documents and CCTV files provided by Chinada.
The timeline of the case shows how crucial the footage was. Chinada first notified the AIU of its decision in March 2025, explaining that Wang’s positive test was caused by passive inhalation during hospital visits on 31 October and 1 November 2024.
The AIU requested the full case file in April and filed a protective appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in May while its review continued.
Hospital outpatient records and CCTV footage were then provided, showing Wang arriving with family members on both dates, waiting in triage areas, and leaving the hospital shortly after treatment was administered to his relative.
Additional footage confirmed his exit times, while medical records documented further tests conducted on the afternoon of 31 October. Although CCTV from that visit was no longer available due to retention limits, the outpatient records substantiated his presence.
By August 2025, the AIU had pieced together a complete timeline of Wang’s hospital visits, corroborating his explanation. With expert testimony supporting the possibility of passive transfer, the AIU accepted Chinada’s findings that Wang bore no fault or negligence, clearing him of wrongdoing and allowing his career to continue unblemished.
