• Loading stock data...
Friday, April 25, 2025
Law

Michael Phelps Had Strong Words for Congress About Lax Anti-Doping Policies, Again

  • The 23-time Olympic gold medalist testified to support stronger anti-doping enforcement.
  • ‘If we continue to let this slide any farther, the Olympic Games might not even be there,’ he said.
Erich Schlegel / USA TODAY Sports

The most decorated swimmer of all time, Michael Phelps, testified before Congress on Tuesday evening about doping in his sport.

Phelps, alongside four-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Allison Schmitt, criticized the World Anti-Doping Agency, widely known as WADA. Earlier this year, an investigation revealed the organization had allowed 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for banned substances to compete in the Tokyo Games. Two of the athletes brought home gold medals, and eleven of those swimmers are heading back to Paris.

“Honestly, if we continue to let this slide any farther, the Olympic Games might not even be there,” Phelps said of lax anti-doping regulations.

The swimmers’ testimonies before the House subcommittee are part of a larger campaign by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. It wants to hold back a portion of roughly $3.7 million in funds to WADA this year until the international organization releases the full report it received from Chinese officials in 2021. The U.S. provides the most funding of any country to WADA.

Several members of Congress on both sides of the aisle seemed to agree with the swimmers and USADA CEO Travis Tygart, who also said WADA should be audited. The chairman of the subcommittee, Representative Morgan Griffith (R., Va.), said, “Perhaps if they are not going to do the job, we shouldn’t even fund them.”

Phelps referenced his 2017 testimony before the same subcommittee about WADA’s response to widespread doping by Russian athletes.

“Sitting here once again, it is clear to me that any attempts of reform at WADA have fallen short, and there are still deeply rooted, systemic problems that prove detrimental to the integrity of international sports and athletes’ right to fair competition, time and time again,” said the swimmer.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Comcast Leans On Sports As Revenue Slides and Cord-Cutting Grows

NBC Sports’ rights portfolio remains a company bedrock.
Olympic rings

SafeSport Fires CEO Amid Scandal

Ju’Riese Colón was hired in 2019, two years after the agency’s founding.
Charlie Baker

NCAA Increases Lobbying Spending in First Months of Trump

The governing body spent $450,000 on lobbying during the first quarter.

Featured Today

The Former NBA Agent Who Became a Pickleball Deputy Commissioner

Chris Patrick went from representing Jimmy Butler to pickleball deputy commissioner.
Apr 5, 2025; San Antonio, TX, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cooper Flagg (2) reacts after a three point basket against the Houston Cougars during the first half in the semifinals of the men's Final Four of the 2025 NCAA Tournament at the Alamodome.
April 21, 2025

Cooper Flagg’s Timing Is Perfect for the NBA and USA Basketball

The projected No. 1 pick just declared for the draft.
Apr 14, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Paige Bueckers is interviewed by ESPN after being selected with the number one overall pick to the Dallas Wings in the 2025 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards
April 21, 2025

ESPN’s WNBA Coverage Mirrors the League’s Stunning Growth

“I don’t think we stand still in our coverage of women’s sports,” says Rowe.
Mar 16, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrates with guard Isaiah Joe (11) after score in the fourth quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum.
April 20, 2025

Unorthodox OKC: The Thunder Redefined Tanking to Become NBA’s Best

A rebuild years in the making has OKC in the driver’s seat.
Jan 20, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goalie Carter Hart (79) reacts after allowing a goal against the Colorado Avalanche in the first period at Wells Fargo Center

Trial Begins for Five Ex-NHL Canadians Accused of Sexual Assault

The players were on Canada’s junior national team during the alleged incident.
Reilly Opelka
April 12, 2025

Tennis Player Testifies ATP Threatened Him For Supporting Lawsuit

The tour denied the allegation in a Friday court hearing.
Kendrick Lamar
April 18, 2025

Drake Lawsuit Says Kendrick Lamar Defamed Him At Super Bowl

Drake says taking out the word “pedophile” didn’t erase the defamation.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

This week, Two-time Super Bowl Champion and CBS NFL analyst Logan Ryan joins us to talk the business of sports on our third installment of Portfolio Players.
NWSL
April 3, 2025

Boston Beats Legal Challenge to $200 Million NWSL Stadium Renovation

Demolition had begun before the case went to trial.
A view of the FanDuel Sportsbook betting area at Belterra Park Cincinnati.
April 2, 2025

FanDuel’s PE Backers Fire Back at Founder’s Legal Fight Over 2018 Sale

The legal dispute stems from the 2018 sale of 61% of FanDuel.
Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; The ESPN logo at the Super Bowl LIX media center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
exclusive
March 22, 2025

ESPN Is Accused of Harassment, Retaliation in Legal Letter From Exec Editor

Cristina Daglas has been on administrative leave since January.
A set of trading cards
March 19, 2025

New Suit Alleges Fanatics ‘Monopoly’ Increased Trading Card Prices 

The suit also names the NBA, NHL, and NFL as defendants.