Michael Phelps On WADA Decision, “I’ve complained about it, I’ve testified about it. And still nothing changes.”

Photo Courtesy: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

American swimming legend Michael Phelps is not happy with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) decision to reinstate the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) from a three-year long suspension.

Phelps slammed WADA at the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum, asking, “When is an organization going to fully take responsibility and take charge to change? Because that’s not what sports is.”

WADA suspended RUSADA in 2015. The suspension was listed after WADA’s executive committee voted in a 9-2 decision. RUSADA is subject to strict conditions such as access to laboratory data and testing samples.

“Sports aren’t about putting performance-enhancing drugs in your body and standing up and performing,” Phelps said.

“I’ve complained about it, I’ve testified about it. And still nothing changes. So I guess that then leads us here and where do we go next? What else can be done?”

“Somebody has to take charge and if WADA’s really not going do anything about it then somebody else has to.”

Many other athletes have voiced their frustration over this decision with the likes of Lilly King, Katie Ledecky and Adam Peaty chiming in.

“It’s frustrating to see an organization like that (WADA) do this to sports,” said Phelps, who appeared alongside China’s NBA basketball great Yao Ming at the Hong Kong forum.

“I mean I’ve talked about multiple years, I don’t know if I’ve ever completed in a clean field. That’s pretty sad, that at the Olympic Games, at world championships, that you can say that. I’m just upset.

“For me being a father, that’s something I’m going to tell my kids and explain to them. It’s just so disappointing to see that.

“I don’t believe they should be allowed to compete. If you test positive, you should not be allowed to compete. But other people don’t believe that.”

Agency France-Press contributed to this report. To read more, click here.

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