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.

  • superkret@feddit.org
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    4 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.world
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      4 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
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        4 months ago

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

      • lone_faerie
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        4 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.