Olympic doping flap after China swimmer's win

China's Ye Shiwen gestures after competing in women's 200-meter individual medley swimming semifinal at Aquatics Centre in Olympic Park Monday / AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

(CBS News) LONDON - What would an Olympics be without a doping controversy?

It seems we've got one now for London 2012. It involves a Chinese swimmer who won an event with results that seemed, to some, to be too good to be true.

It wasn't just that Ye Shiwen won - it's how she won.

The 16-year-old was fast - too fast according to some. Her final leg in the 400 meter individual medley was quicker than the winning men's time by U.S. swimmer Ryan Lochte.

One of the most respected swimming coaches in the business, American John Leonard, executive director of the World Swimming Coaches Association, was quoted as saying, "Every time we see something unbelievable, history shows us that it turns out there was doping involved."

Ye credited Chinese training methods.

It's an old argument.

Complete coverage of 2012 London Olympics
Olympics photo galleries

The London Games have set up the most exhaustive drug testing program ever. All medal winners will be tested for 240 banned substances, but the dopers - if that's what they are - always seem to be a step ahead of the doping police.

While controversy swirled around the pool, there was some American success inside it.

24 Photos

Missy Franklin

Teen Missy Franklin won gold in the 100 meter backstroke.

And with her parents cheering from poolside, Franklin is looking like the future of U.S. swimming.

"Just seeing my parents, it means the world that they could be here," she said. "And I know that God has given me so much, and for them to be here and for them to watch it and be with me and experience it is so special."

It was an American one-two, with Matt Grevers and Nick Thoman winning gold and silver in the men's 100 meter backstroke.

57 Photos

London Olympics: July 30, 2012

But it was a bust in gymnastics, where the U.S. team, which had qualified first, finished a disappointing fifth in the finals. The team event was won by - guess who - the Chinese.

New York Times sports columnist Bill Rhoden weighed in on various Olympic controversies in an interview with "CBS This Morning" co-hosts Charlie Rose and Gayle King. To see the interview, click on the video at left:

In another controversial note, some American athletes have been complaining about not being able to promote their own sponsors because of an Olympic rule that only official games sponsors can be showcased here.

"The Olympic ideal and the Olympic reality are now different," complained U.S. Olympic sprinter Sonya Richards-Ross.

The Olympics used to be about amateurism. At least, that was the ideal. Now, it appears to be about competing sponsorships.

In the latest medals count: The U.S. and China are tied for the lead with 17 overall, followed by Japan, with 11, followed by Italy and France. China has the most gold medals, with nine. The U.S. has won five golds.

[ytsrevil]

Here's the deal. The racist white male controlled media is now in a dizzy over Asian and especially Chinese success at sports because this proves that Asians are not only smart but athletic. What that does to the white male ego is devastating. It crushes it and puts it in a state of insecurity. What more is there to say?

[nygurl1]

When did they start PAYING MONEY for winning medals?
What happened to AMATEURS?

[CPTALLEN]

SO a white child prodigy swimmer can break records but soon as an asian child prodigy breaks a world record it becomes suspicious? WHAT A BUNCH OF HYPOCRITICAL RACISTS!

[nygurl1]

What white child prodigy are you talking about?

[skeezix06]

Fast is one thing. The speed she showed at the end of the race was something else. It wasn't normal. It was more like superhuman. Whether it was blood doping or whether it was drugs, it certainly looked to me like she used something illegal to enhance her performance.

[lesserof2evil]

"One of the most respected swimming coaches in the business, American John Leonard, executive director of the World Swimming Coaches Association, was quoted as saying, "Every time we see something unbelievable, history shows us that it turns out there was doping involved."

So according to the "most respected" coach John Leonard, we should be investigating Michael Phelps for evidence of doping, or did he mean Phelps' achievement in 2008 Olympics wasn't unbelievable? What a clown!!!

[nygurl1]

Well he was tested, every time he raced, so not an issue.
SHE actually beat the mens times. How?

[jiojovi]

Well Mr. John Leonard, unless you have a dog smell sense and can trace drugs by just looking at someone, stop judging because the swimmer is fast. Wait for the experts to conduct the right drug test before you start slandering athletes just because they are good. Are you talking about the US team the same way? They have also won and have established a few records. The word "respected" was erroneously used to describe you because you have no respect for others and to be called a respected coach is giving you too much value, you should be ashamed to publicly call others drug users without knowing them.

[lesserof2evil]

ditto