Michael Phelps wants dopers banned ahead of Paris Olympics

The Paris Olympics are a month away and while much of the focus is on sewage in the River Seine, 

Congress is talking about doping. The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on what members say are failures of the  World Anti Doping Agency or WADA. 

To shine a light on the conversation, lawmakers brought in a GOAT – Michael Phelps. 

Michael Phelps, 23-time gold medalist: “I witnessed firsthand the pervasive uncertainty in the suspicions surrounding doping, // 20:59 The hardest part was seeing athletes achieve seemingly impossible feats, knowing the immense effort and sacrifices required to reach these heights cleanly.”

Members on both sides of the aisle accuse WADA of unevenly applying its rules to athletes from different countries. 

Lawmakers focused on an incident involving swimmers from China at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.  Before the games, 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance; 13 of them ultimately competed in the olympics. They were given a pass because WADA accepted the explanation of Chinese officials that the athletes tested positive quote: “”… of their hotel. 

11 of those athletes are about to compete again in Paris. 

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-WA: “How many more Olympic athletes have to lose out on winning medals and proudly singing their country’s national anthem before the world. Anti Doping agency decides to enforce these rules, uniformly.” 

WADA was invited to testify but did not show. 

Rep. Frank Pallone, D-NJ: “It’s really outrageous that WADA does not have the courage or integrity to show up and defend itself here tonight, WADA should be protecting clean sport and not hiding from accountability.”

In a six page document explaining the incident, WADA said: Some of [the swimmers] were tested on two or even three occasions on consecutive days. For several swimmers, the results varied from negative to positive within a few hours, which is not compatible with a doping scenario of deliberate ingestion nor with micro-dosing. 

The CEO of the US anti-doping agency cast doubt on that explanation. 

Travis Tygart, US Anti-Doping Agency CEO: “TMZ is a controlled prescription medication, it’s prohibited all the time, it doesn’t magically appear fairy dust in a kitchen.”

Tygart suggested an independent prosecutor be assigned to the case who can look at the evidence and athlete’s individual files. 

As for the athlete who dedicated his life to reaching greatness, he wants rule breakers banned. 

Michael Phelps, 23-time gold medalist: “If somebody does test positive, I would just like to see a lifetime ban. If somebody is going out of their way to cheat, go, lifetime ban. “

We have more olympics coverage on the Straight Arrow News app, including a report about how the olympics were at one point for amateur athletes only, no pros allowed.