US athletes have lost faith in anti-doping regulators

WAshington — U.S. Olympic athletes have lost faith in the World Anti-Doping Agency to rid their sports of cheaters before next month’s Summer Olympics in Paris, two former gold medalists said Tuesday in prepared testimony before a subcommittee of the Chamber.

The comments from Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt followed revelations that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned heart drug ahead of the 2021 Tokyo Olympics but were allowed by WADA to compete. Five of these swimmers won 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. The Chinese and American teams broke the previous world record in the relay.

“We ran a lot. We train a lot. We follow all protocols. We respect their performance and accept our defeat,” said Schmitt. “But now, upon learning that the Chinese relay was made up of athletes who were not suspended, I look back with doubts. We may never know the truth and it 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 at reform at WADA have been insufficient and there remain deep-rooted systemic problems that prove detrimental to the integrity of international sports and athletes, the right to fair competition, time and time. again,” Phelps said.

The global doping regulator accepted Chinese anti-doping authorities’ conclusion that the 23 athletes ingested the banned substance through contaminated food at a hotel. Independent anti-doping experts have questioned this finding, with US Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart calling it “outrageous.”

WADA said COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in China prevented an “on-the-ground investigation” of the positive tests and concluded it could not refute the Chinese authorities’ explanation.

In response to 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. His appointment also angry critics which pointed out their 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 required quotas since 2018, Tygart noted in his testimony.

Tygart called on the US to condition its future WADA funding on the agency’s reforms.