Stubblety-Cook Weighs Protest at Paris Olympics

Australia’s Olympic swimming champion Zac Stubblety-Cook is contemplating a podium protest at the Paris Games in response to the inclusion of Chinese swimmers who tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine. Eleven out of the 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive before the Tokyo Olympics are competing in Paris, sparking controversy and dissatisfaction among athletes. Despite Chinese authorities' claims of contamination, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accepted the explanation, allowing the athletes to compete. Stubblety-Cook and other athletes, such as American breaststroke specialist Lilly King, have expressed frustration over what they view as a failure of the anti-doping system. The International Olympic Committee’s Rule 50 prohibits protests during official ceremonies, but Stubblety-Cook has stated he will make a decision on a protest on the day of competition. This controversy also threatens U.S. plans to host future Olympics due to an ongoing dispute between WADA and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency.