Olympic champion swimmers tell Congress U.S. athletes have lost faith in anti-doping regulator
U.S. Olympic athletes have lost faith in the World Anti-Doping Agency to rid their sports of cheaters ahead of next month’s Summer Games in Paris, two former gold medalists said Tuesday in prepared before a House subcommittee.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Olympic athletes have lost faith in the World Anti-Doping Agency to rid their sports of cheaters ahead of next month’s Summer Games in Paris, two former gold medalists said Tuesday in prepared testimony before a House subcommittee.
The comments by Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt followed revelations that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for a banned heart medication ahead of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 but were allowed by WADA to compete. Five of those swimmers went on to win medals, including three golds.
Phelps is the most decorated swimmer in history and a 23-time Olympic gold medalist. Schmitt, a four-time gold medalist, was part of the silver medal-winning U.S. 800-meter freestyle relay team that finished second to China at the Tokyo Games. Both the Chinese and U.S. teams broke the previous world record in the relay.
Former Olympian Michael Phelps testifies Tuesday before a House Oversight and Investigations subcommittee hearing on anti-doping measures.Jim Watson / AFP - Getty Images“We raced hard. We trained hard. We followed every protocol. We respected their performance and accepted our defeat,” Schmitt said. “But now, learning that the Chinese relay consisted of athletes who had not served a suspension, I look back with doubt. We may never know the truth and that may haunt many of us for years.”Phelps expressed frustration that nothing had changed since he testified before the same subcommittee seven years ago about WADA’s handling of Russian state-sponsored doping.
“Sitting here once again, it is clear to me that any attempts of reform at WADA have fallen short, and there are still deeply rooted, systemic problems that prove detrimental to the integrity of international sports and athletes' right to fair competition, time and time again,” Phelps said.
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