Michael Phelps, the greatest winner in the history of the Olympic Games, was very harsh against the World Anti-Doping Agency

Michael Phelpsthe most successful athlete in the history of the Olympic Gamesonce again put the focus on the problem of doping in sport and strongly criticized the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA, for its acronym in English), which he urged to undergo a “deep reform”, and assured that athletes cannot “continue to trust in an organization that continues to prove incapable or unwilling to apply its policies of consistently throughout the world.

“We have to hold them responsible for what they do. They live on an island”said the 38-year-old former swimmer.

The American legend, winner of 23 Olympic golds and a total of 28 medals, appeared before the Congress of his country with his compatriot Allison Schmitt, four-time Olympic champion. And she hit WADA hard, drawing attention especially to the doping scandal involving Chinese swimming in 2021.

Three years ago, 23 swimmers from that country tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ), a heart medication banned since 2014. The athletes, some of whom competed and won medals in the Tokyo Gameswere not suspended or sanctioned since WADA accepted the explanations of the Chinese authorities that the results were the result of food contamination in a hotel.

Last week the New York Times announced that three of those swimmers – including two Tokyo gold medalists and a world record holder – had already tested positive for banned substances several years earlier. And the scandal added a new chapter shortly after, when it was confirmed that eleven of those athletes will be part of the team for Paris 2024.

He “Baltimore Shark”who during his career also won 26 world titles in long course, said that “close friends” had been potentially affected by the decision to allow Chinese swimmers to compete in Tokyo. “Many of them will live with the ‘And if…’ for the rest of their lives.”he assured.

“Competing at the highest level I was able to experience first-hand the uncertainty and suspicions of doping. The hardest thing was seeing other athletes achieve almost impossible marks unfairly, knowing the enormous effort and sacrifice required to achieve those times cleanly. “It was discouraging and demoralizing.”Phelps said.

The American recalled that in 2017 he had already appeared before that same Congressional Committee for the same problem and said that it hurt him to see himself in the same situation once again.

“The last time I spoke in front of the Committee, in 2017, was the first time I spoke publicly about doping and for a fair sport. I spoke about the need for an athlete to be able to believe in themselves and compete at such a high level, knowing that this is only possible when you believe that the system is clean and fair. After my testimony, I felt optimistic that a necessary and profound reform would be generated to create a clean and fair international playing field. I was happy to see that some reforms were put in place at WADA, which was finally reacting to this Committee’s calls for improvement.. But today I am back here for the same reason,” she lamented.

“If you read my testimony from 2017, every word still rings true. It’s clear to me that any attempt to reform WADA has fallen short. That’s why I urge this Congress to use its considerable influence over the Agency to transform it.” into an independent and effective organization,” he continued.

He added: “There continue to be deep-rooted systemic issues that are detrimental to the integrity of international sport and athletes’ right to fair competition, time and time again. It does not appear to be a coincidence that WADA has once again bowed to the pressures from international sport to the detriment of athletes. If we let this situation continue, the Olympic Games could lose credibility.

Smith, 34 years old and a member of the American relay team in the 4×200 meter freestyle event that won the silver medal in Tokyo behind Chinaagreed with Phelps’ diagnosis and recalled that “I had already heard about the cases of doping in the Chinese team, but initially I did not give importance to those rumors”.

“Today I know that the Chinese relay team was made up of swimmers who should have been sanctioned and I no longer have doubts“Schmitt concluded, demanding “on behalf of American athletes, greater responsibility on the part of WADA and the entire anti-doping system.”

Phelps said that at the peak of his career he trained for five years without taking a day off, because he understood that at his level of competition, that was necessary to make a difference.

“That sacrifice took me to the highest point, but also to the lowest point. But I did it with the goal of winning gold and hearing my country’s national anthem on the podium,” he commented.

“Once upon a time, I was a child with a dream. And thanks to dedication and sacrifice, I managed to make that dream come true. But I was only able to do it because I had faith that I had been given a fair chance.. If international sport continues to suffer blows to its integrity, new generations will not be able to trust the system as I did. I ask you to commit to the fight against doping to maintain levels of justice and integrity. Let’s work together to ensure that every athlete, regardless of their background, can compete fairly and achieve their dream,” he concluded.

His words had such an impact on members of Congress that several legislators from both parties considered that the United States should stop financing WADA, to which the North American country is the largest contributor.

Phelps’ testimony reached the World Anti-Doping Agency, which did not take long to respond.

Witold Banka, president of WADA, stated in a statement that the American’s words were “full of the kind of emotional and political rhetoric that makes headlines” and said that they are not “constructive” criticisms to “strengthen the global anti-doping system.”

And he questioned lawmakers’ request for the United States to withdraw funding, saying that “it would be more detrimental to American athletes, since it would only serve to weaken the anti-doping system in other parts of the world where their competitors are located.”

With information from agencies.