In an interview with a British newspaper John Leonard, director of the World Swimming Coaches association, said: “Any time someone has looked like superwoman in the history of our sport they have later been found guilty of doping.”
Speaking hours after he had watched his daughter win the 200-metre individual medley and break a new Olympic record, Mr Ye, said speculation over his daughter’s victory had cast a shadow over her spectacular performances in London.
“She called us this morning at 6am after the [200-metre] race. She was not in a good mood,” said Mr Ye, a retired tour guide.
“For one thing, she was very tired from competing and feeling great pressure. But most of all the questioning from the western media has made her really [tired and pressured]. She said this morning that the test result had come out but the media still stuck to the [doping] issue, still asking whether she had taken drugs and saying she could just reply, ‘Yes or no.”
“I told her she could refuse to respond to those habitually arrogant and unreasonable [questions]. [I said:] ‘You don’t need to answer.’
They could bring it up if they had evidence. But when you have zero evidence, [how can] you say someone is taking drugs? They are taking this attitude when they see Chinese athletes achieving good results.”
Mr Ye, who said his wife worked in a local Panasonic factory, said those questioning his daughter should be ashamed of themselves.
“Shame on the West. It is too much,” he said during a half-an-hour interview at the family home inside Hangzhou’s Harmony New Village, a residential compound for retired members of the Chinese military, where Ms Ye has lived since the age of 4.
Asked what he would say to John Leonard, whose comments caused the controversy to explode, Mr Ye gesticulated angrily with his hands.
“I say just ignore him. The questioning is out of sheer jealousy. The best way to counter [the accusations] is to achieve better results.
[We should] just ignore him. My daughter also said the questioning had given her motivation.”
In the eastern city of Hangzhou, where Ms Ye was born and trained as a swimmer, friends and supporters also defended their champion swimmer from the suggestion she may have been using banned substances.
Wei Wei, Ms Ye’s first swimming coach, told the Daily Telegraph he believed the accusations were down to racism. “It has really been hard for her [with] all the questioning from the western media.
"I think they are wearing coloured glasses. It is completely groundless. They have no proof,” said Mr Wei, who worked with her for around 5 years at Hangzhou’s Chen Jinglun Sport School, a prestigious local sports academy famed for breeding champion swimmers.
“I think the challenge might be that China has had a doping scandal before but that was in the 1990s. Now it is not possible. For one thing the parents would not allow it. They wouldn’t risk it just for a gold medal,” added Mr Wei.
“Her victory has raised questions about doping from around the world,” said 74-year-old Gao Yousheng, a neighbor and family friend who served in the military with Ms Ye’s grandfather. “[But] just like Ms Ye said, China has strict policies on taking drugs and there will be no drug taking at sporting events. She has passed the urine test.”
"She is so young and there is lots of room for her to improve,” added Mr Gao who has left a bouquet of white lilies at Ms Ye’s home to celebrate her victory.
“I don’t know where all her strength and power comes from [but] when she swims it is like she is being propelled by a booster.”
Following Ms Ye’s second gold medal on Tuesday neighbours erected a giant red banner at the entrance to her street, reading: “Warmly celebrate our community’s Ye Shiwen who has bravely won two gold medals at the Olympics, bringing further glory to the country and the people.”
The front page of Titan Sports, China’s best-selling sports newspaper, also took a swipe at Ms Ye’s detractors. “Ye Shiwen: she is a stimulant for the people of China,” the headline read, making fun of the doping allegations.
“Ye Shiwen won again despite all of the questioning voices,” the newspaper said. “This is the best form of sporting vengeance.”
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