US swimming stars testify about anti-doping measures before the Olympics

The Great American Swimmers Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt will testify on Tuesday before a US House subcommittee investigating a doping case involving Chinese swimmers before the Paris Olympic Games.

Olympic gold medalists Phelps and Schmitt, as well as Travis Tygart, executive director of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, will testify about anti-doping measures before members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. Representatives, controlled by the Republicans.

Phelps, with 28 medals to his credit, is the most successful Olympian of all time. Schmitt won 10 medals in four Games. Neither of them will compete in Paris.

Tuesday’s hearing, which is due to begin at 7 p.m. (local time), will take place two months after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirmed reports that nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned drug found in heart medications, before the Games. Tokyo Olympics in 202nd.

The Chinese anti-doping agency, CHINADA, has stated that the swimmers had inadvertently exposed themselves due to contamination and should not be held responsible for the positive results. China named all 31 members of its swimming team this month.

WADA said in April it would send a compliance team to evaluate China’s anti-doping program, but prominent swimmers, including seven-time gold medalist Katie Ledecky, who competes in Paris, have continued to express concerns.

Last month, another House committee asked the Justice Department and the International Olympic Committee to investigate the Chinese swimmers’ doping case before the Olympics.

Four members of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, including top Republican John Moolenaar and top Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi, wrote to the institutions that China had “inexplicably” provided nearly $2 million more than required. to AMA programs.

Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channels Youtube, WhatsApp and to the newsletter. Turn on notifications and follow us on Facebook, x and instagram.