Michael Phelps, Allison Schmitt call for Wada reform over handling of Chinese swimmers case
- The two US Olympians took aim at the anti-doping body over its handling of 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for a banned substance
Olympic swimming icon Michael Phelps and four-time gold medallist Allison Schmitt called for reform of the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) on Tuesday over the global body’s handling of the 2021 Chinese swimming drugs scandal.
Phelps and Schmitt issued their calls while testifying before a US Congressional oversight and investigations subcommittee hearing in Washington.
Both Phelps and Schmitt, along with US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) chief executive Travis Tygart, took aim at Wada over the recent revelations concerning 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for banned prescription heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ) in early 2021.
None of the 23 swimmers were suspended or sanctioned after Wada accepted the explanation of Chinese authorities that the results were caused by food contamination at a hotel where they had stayed together.
In separate revelations published by The New York Times last week, it emerged that three of the swimmers – including two 2021 Tokyo Olympic gold medallists and a current world record holder – tested positive for banned substances several years earlier.
