WASHINGTON, D.C.: Swimming legends Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt have told a U.S. House subcommittee this week that U.S. Olympic athletes have lost faith in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), to rid their sports of cheaters.
The testimony comes before the Summer Games in Paris, which starts in a month.
The testimony is vital because 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 them went on to win medals, including three golds.
Phelps, the most decorated swimmer in history and a 23-time Olympic gold medalist, and Schmitt, a four-time gold medalist, were part of the U.S. 800-meter freestyle relay team that finished a close second to China at the Tokyo Games. Both teams broke the previous world record in the relay.
“We raced hard. We trained hard. We followed every protocol. We accepted our defeat with grace,” The Associated Press said, quoting Schmitt. “Many of us will be haunted by this podium finish that may have been impacted by doping.”
Eleven Chinese swimmers who tested positive ahead of Tokyo will compete again in Paris.
Phelps nodded multiple times as members of Congress criticized WADA.
Phelps said nothing had changed since he testified before the same subcommittee seven years ago about WADA’s handling of Russian state-sponsored doping.
WADA accepted the conclusion of Chinese anti-doping officials that the 23 athletes had ingested the banned substance through contaminated food at a hotel. Independent anti-doping experts questioned the findings.
U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart called it “outrageous.”
WADA claimed China’s COVID-19 restrictions prevented an “on the ground probe” of the positive tests and concluded that it could not disprove Chinese authorities’ explanation.
WADA President Witold Banka declined to testify even though he was invited.
