Phelps calls for lifetime ban for athletes caught doping after Olympic scandal

The most decorated Olympian of all time wants to ban anyone caught doping from competing in the Games. Swimmer Michael Phelps, the 23-time Olympic medalist, said the Olympics should enact a one-and-done policy for athletes who test positive for banned substances.

“If you test positive, you should never be allowed to come back and compete again, cut and dry,” Phelps said.

Phelps has been outspoken on the topic for several years. In June, he testified on Capitol Hill about doping and enacting bans.

“So with this, I urge you the members of Congress to engage in the fight against doping,” Phelps said in his testimony to Congress. “We can uphold the values and fairness and integrity that are the cornerstone of Olympic and Paralympic sports. Let us work together to ensure that every athlete regardless of where they are from has the opportunity to compete fairly and achieve their dreams.”

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2021 doping scandal unveiled years later

Phelps reiterated his stance as a new Chinese doping scandal overshadowed the recently completed swimming events at the Paris Games.

While the scandal had to do with the Tokyo Games in 2021, specifics of the case were not revealed until The New York Times published its investigation in April 2024.

Two governing bodies, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and World Aquatics, acknowledged that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance before the Tokyo Games. However, officials allowed them to compete.

Five of the athletes medaled and three won gold at the Games.

Both agencies accepted the Chinese explanation that the athletes consumed tainted food.

Doping problems persist leading up to the Paris Games

Phelps is not alone in speaking out against doping. British swimmer Adam Peaty also aired his frustration with the Chinese doping situation.

Peaty’s team came in fourth place in the men’s 4×100 meter freestyle relay at the Paris Games. China’s team won gold, and two of the swimmers on that team were athletes that tested positive for banned substances in Tokyo.

“So what is going to come out in next month?” Peaty said. “What’s the surprise under the Christmas tree? But I want to make sure that the future British swimmers and future swimmers in general around the world are racing fair and are winning fair.”

“How hard is it?” Peaty continued. “All you got to do is train harder, you don’t have to take anything, just train harder. It does get me a bit emotional. It does fill me with emotion because I know how hard I have to work for a silver or a gold medal. It’s just I want to make sure that the sport is protected. It’s coming from a place of love and also a place of anger.”

World Aquatics officials said they tested Chinese swimmers more than swimmers from any other country. On average, every Chinese swimmer has participated in 21 substance tests since the start of 2024.

However, some said the testing in Paris went too far. According to CNN, China’s national swim team nutritionists said the team underwent nearly 200 tests during the 2024 Games.

Phelps and Peaty’s comments also came as additional doping controversies involving Chinese swimmers surfaced. The New York Times’ investigation also said two other Chinese swimmers tested positive for banned substances in 2022. Again, Chinese officials said the swimmers ate tainted food. One of those swimmers competed in Paris.