With growing concerns about ‘cheating,’ the official Olympic drug testing rules for the Paris games have been made public.
The Paris Olympics has witnessed numerous highlights and record-breaking performances, but controversy has also cast a shadow over the event.
One prominent issue is the boxing gender eligibility debate, alongside significant discussions about fairness in swimming competitions.
China’s exceptional performance in swimming, securing numerous gold medals, has sparked particular attention.
Critics have questioned the Olympics’ decision to allow some Chinese swimmers to compete, especially after nine tested positive for a banned substance before the Tokyo Olympics but still managed to win medals in Paris.
Investigations revealed that the swimmers had unknowingly consumed the banned substance through contaminated food, allowing them to compete in 2024.
This decision has sparked debate, with prominent Olympic athletes sharing their views.
Michael Phelps, who has a record of 28 Olympic medals, expressed his stance on Monday: “If you test positive, you should never be allowed to come back and compete again, cut and dry. I believe one and done.
“It does break my heart to see people put hard effort into four straight years to prepare for an Olympic Games, then to have it taken away from them by somebody who is cheating.
“It’s not right. I stand for that and I will always stand for that.”
The Olympic icon added: “Go ahead and go to the cheater games. Keep the Olympics about integrity.”
According to the World Anti-Doping Agency, athletes at the Olympics can be tested at any time without prior notice.
They may be required to provide urine or blood samples at any moment.
However, athletes do have certain rights during this process.
For instance, they can have a representative with them and ask questions during the test. They can also request a delay for valid reasons and ask for special assistance or modifications to the process.
On the other hand, athletes must promptly report for testing when selected and present valid identification if asked.
