In the wake of a Chinese doping scandal, Michael Phelps doubled down on his support for tougher sanctions — including a lifetime ban for anyone who tests positive.

In the wake of a Chinese doping scandal, Michael Phelps doubled down Monday on his support for tougher sanctions — including a lifetime ban for anyone who tests positive for a banned substance.

“If you test positive, you should never be allowed to come back and compete again, cut and dry,” Phelps said. “I believe one and done.”

The World Anti-Doping Agency and World Aquatics have acknowledged that 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for a banned substance ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. The results were not made public until media reports surfaced this year, with both bodies accepting the Chinese explanation that the positive tests were caused by tainted food.

Nine of those swimmers won medals - several as part of relay teams - n Paris, leading British star Adam Peaty to gripe that the playing field was not even.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
    33·
    3 months ago

    Not that I think it should be, but isn’t cannabis a banned substance? If so, doesn’t that apply to him?

      • Swordgeek@lemmy.ca
        30·
        3 months ago

        Wrong.

        Doping refers to deliberate use of compounds or procedures explicity banned by WADA, in some clearly-defined window around a competition.

        Pot is still on the list. End of story.

      • superkret@feddit.org
        6·
        3 months ago

        I’d imagine microdosing cannabis could be performance enhancing in shooting sports, for example.

    • dohpaz42@lemmy.worldEnglish
      22·
      3 months ago

      Isn’t the idea of banning doping in the Olympics to deal with people using banned substances while actively competing? That is to say, even though Phelps uses weed, has he tested positive during an active competition for being on weed (or any other substance)?

      What competitors do in their off time is fine as far as I’m concerned. But if they’re using right before or during actively competing, then I can see where it’s a problem. No?

      • superkret@feddit.org
        6·
        3 months ago

        Athletes who compete on an international level don’t have off time.
        They’re training year-round, and there’s a lot of performance enhancing drugs that speed up recovery during the training season. Faster recovery gives the athlete more time to train, which enhances their performance during competition.

        • dohpaz42@lemmy.worldEnglish
          7·
          3 months ago

          You do realize that no one can work literally all the time without time off, right? Olympians are super athletes, but they’re not superhuman.

          • superkret@feddit.org
            3·
            3 months ago

            You do realize there are millions of people who train for their sport all year long? I’m one of them.

          • lone_faerieEnglish
            2·
            3 months ago

            Ok, so he goes home at night, smokes a joint before bed, and is back in the gym the next day. Working year-round doesn’t mean you have zero free time.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        2·
        3 months ago

        In February 2009, a photograph of Phelps using a bong went viral; this resulted in the loss of Kellogg’s as a sponsor, as well as a three-month suspension by USA Swimming. Phelps admitted that the photo, which was taken at a party at the University of South Carolina, was authentic. He publicly apologized, calling his behavior “inappropriate”.

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Phelps#Legal_issues

        USA Swimming is who selects people for the Olympics.

        • dohpaz42@lemmy.worldEnglish
          22·
          3 months ago

          With all due respect, you are conflating what somebody does in their personal time with doing something to cheat in a sporting event (the topic at hand). Despite Phelps having made some poor social and legal choices, his stance on zero-tolerance to doping in sporting events is no less relevant. What you’re suggesting is a red herring.

          • DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social
            2·
            3 months ago

            His choices were only poor because there are cooler drugs to do that don’t harm your lungs and heart.

            You need your lungs and heart, Phelps! Cardio is literally your career!

            • njm1314@lemmy.world
              17·
              3 months ago

              He won 28 Olympic medals. He’s the most decorated Olympian of all time. I think his career was fine. But no random internet person tell us more about what Michael Phelps should have done to be a better swimmer. LOL.

          • lone_faerieEnglish
            2·
            3 months ago

            Literally Sha’Carri Richardson was banned from competing in the Tokyo Olympics by the US Anti-Doping Agency because she smoked weed to help cope with the death of her mother. You’re making a big deal arguing that something that really does actually happen doesn’t for some reason.

    • regrub@lemmy.world
      9·
      3 months ago

      I think the window for the testing is what matters more. Whatever they do off-season is their business, as long as its not in their system during training and competition

    • cygnus@lemmy.ca
      9·
      3 months ago

      Sort of… CBD isn’t, and anyway I imagine the exclusion of cannabis won’t be around much longer. There are many studies that show it has no impact on athletic performance.

      • EtherWhack@lemmy.world
        4·
        3 months ago

        CBD was unfortunately on the ban list when he got in trouble. It was only just removed a decade later in 2019.

        It’s also one of the few chemicals in cannabis that can affect performance, unlike THC which just bugs me. Like they are almost picking and choosing, purely to just be finicky