**Olympic Champion Swimmers Tell Congress US Athletes Have Lost Faith in Anti-Doping Regulator**
WASHINGTON — U.S. Olympic athletes have expressed a significant loss of faith in the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to effectively eliminate cheaters from their sports, especially as the Summer Games in Paris approach next month. This sentiment was strongly conveyed by two former gold medalists, Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt, during their testimony before a House subcommittee on Tuesday.
The athletes’ comments were prompted by recent revelations that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for a banned heart medication before the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 but were still allowed to compete by WADA. Among these swimmers, five went on to win medals, including three golds.
Michael Phelps, the most decorated swimmer in history with 23 Olympic gold medals, and Allison Schmitt, a four-time gold medalist, voiced their concerns. Schmitt was part of the U.S. 800-meter freestyle relay team that finished second to China at the Tokyo Games, with both teams breaking the previous world record in the relay.
“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 echoed Schmitt’s frustration, noting that little 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.
The global doping regulator accepted the conclusion of Chinese anti-doping officials that the 23 athletes had ingested the banned substance through contaminated food at a hotel. However, independent anti-doping experts have questioned this finding, with U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart calling it “outrageous.”
WADA stated that COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in China prevented an “on the ground probe” of the positive tests and concluded that it could not disprove Chinese authorities’ explanation.
In response to the criticism, WADA appointed an independent investigator, Swiss prosecutor Eric Cottier, to review its handling of the China case. Cottier was appointed on April 25 and was expected to deliver his findings within two months. However, his appointment also angered critics who pointed out his potential conflicts of interest.
The United States contributes more funding to WADA than any other country, including nearly $3.7 million this year. China has given WADA $1.8 million more than its required dues since 2018, Tygart noted in his testimony. Tygart called on the U.S. to condition its future funding of WADA on reforms at the agency, an idea that both Republican and Democratic lawmakers said they supported.
“I think the threat of that, if not actually suspending (funding) for a period of time, will go a long way to influence the truth getting out,” Tygart said. “We should ensure that our money is going for a good purpose, and right now it’s absolutely not.”
Phelps, wearing a dark suit, was joined by his wife, Nicole, and youngest son, Nico, who was born in January. He nodded in agreement multiple times as members of Congress criticized WADA and said Americans should be able to watch the Olympics without wondering if the competition is rigged.
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., the chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, expressed skepticism about WADA’s acceptance of the Chinese explanation. “The banned drug, which is only available in pill form, somehow ended up in the kitchen of a hotel the swimmers were staying at,” she said, adding that WADA “somehow concluded this explanation was plausible.”
WADA President Witold Banka was invited to testify on Tuesday but declined. In a statement, Banka said, “Unfortunately, there persists a narrative from some in the U.S. suggesting that WADA somehow acted inappropriately or showed bias towards China, despite there being no evidence to support that theory. WADA understands the tense relationship that exists between the governments of China and the U.S. and has no mandate to be part of that. It is not appropriate for anti-doping to be politicized in this way.”
The testimony of Phelps and Schmitt underscores a broader concern among U.S. athletes about the integrity of international sports competitions. As the Paris Olympics draw near, the call for reform within WADA grows louder, with athletes and officials alike demanding a more transparent and effective anti-doping system.
The issue of doping in sports is not new, but the recent revelations and the subsequent response from WADA have reignited the debate. For athletes who dedicate their lives to their sport, the assurance of a level playing field is paramount. The testimonies of Phelps and Schmitt serve as a powerful reminder of the ongoing challenges in the fight against doping and the need for continued vigilance and reform.
Source: AP News, NBC News
