Olympic Swimmers Testify on Doping Concerns Before Congress

Olympic gold medalists Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt testified before a U.S. House subcommittee, expressing their frustration with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for failing to effectively combat doping ahead of the Paris Olympics. Their testimony followed revelations that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine before the 2021 Tokyo Olympics but were allowed to compete, with some winning medals. Phelps highlighted that no significant reforms have been made since he last testified seven years ago about Russian doping. Lawmakers criticized WADA for accepting Chinese authorities' claims of contamination without proper scrutiny. The hearing, aimed at boosting public attention, saw bipartisan agreement on the need for stringent anti-doping measures to ensure fair play in sports.