No reason to suspect Ye of doping, says IOC

Chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen's record-breaking gold medal performance should not be immediately associated with doping because that ruins the charm of sport, the International Olympic Committee medical chief said on Monday.

Ye crushed her opponents in the women's 400 individual medley on Saturday with an eye-popping performance, unleashing a sprint finish in her last two lengths that would have beaten Americans Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte, two of the world's fastest men.

"I say no," Arne Ljungqvist told reporters when asked whether her dazzling swim had raised suspicions of doping. "I have personally no reason other than to applaud until I have further facts. Should a sudden raise in performance or a win be primarily suspect of being a cheat then sport is in danger because this ruins the charm of sport," said Ljungqvist, who has 40 years experience in anti-doping.

Ye also brushed aside doping suspicions saying Chinese athletes were clean. "My results come from hard work and training.”