Chinese Olympic swimmer Chen Xinyi tests positive for banned substance

RIO DE JANEIRO — Chinese swimmer Chen Xinyi tested positive for the banned substance hydrochlorothiazide on Thursday at the Rio Olympics, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.

Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic used as a masking agent, causing those who use it to make more urine, according to WebMD.

The 18-year-old Xinyi, who finished fourth in the 100-meter butterfly earlier in the meet, is scheduled to compete in heat 12 of the 50-meter freestyle Friday morning. As of late Thursday, she remained listed on the schedule.

However, an official from world swimming governing body FINA told USA TODAY Sports that the organization had been informed her Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing was taking place in order to prepare it for action. The person spoke on condition of anonymity due to not being authorized to comment publicly on the matter.

Brazilian newspaper Estadao reported that Chen had returned a positive sample in a test administered before she traveled to Rio for the Games. It said that both the athlete and Chinese team officials had been informed of the results two days ago and a suspension was automatically handed down.

However, Chen appealed to CAS in the hopes of being allowed to compete in the 50-meter event.

CAS was expected to release a public statement regarding the matter on its website late Thursday, but the site was unavailable for several hours.

Swimming Australia’s website came under attack from hackers earlier in the event following a doping controversy in which Australian swimmer Mack Horton repeated referred to Chinese rival Sun Yang as a “drug cheat.”

PHOTOS: Best images from Thursday at the Rio Olympics