U.S. Olympians Blast WADA's Failures, Call for Reforms Ahead of Paris 2024

U.S. Olympians Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt testified before Congress, expressing frustration with WADA for failing to effectively eliminate doping in sports. Their complaints followed revelations about Chinese swimmers testing positive for banned substances yet being allowed to compete. This has fueled calls for significant reforms at WADA.

In a fiery congressional testimony, renowned U.S. Olympians Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt lambasted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for its persistent failures to curb doping in sports. This comes ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, igniting a strong call for sweeping reforms in the global anti-doping body.

The athletes' grievances were amplified by recent disclosures that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned heart medication before the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. Despite these findings, the athletes were permitted to compete, with some going on to secure gold medals. This revelation has further eroded trust in WADA's ability to ensure fair competition.

Highlighting longstanding issues, Phelps argued that previous attempts at reform have fallen short, undermining the integrity of international athletics. The testimony urged lawmakers to leverage U.S. funding to demand accountability and meaningful changes within WADA.

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