One and done: Michael Phelps calls for a lifetime ban for anyone who's caught doping

girlfreddy@lemmy.ca to News@lemmy.world – 399 points –
One and done: Michael Phelps calls for a lifetime ban for anyone who's caught doping
apnews.com

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.

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

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?

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.

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.

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.

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

So wtf are you doing here on Lemmy? Get your ass back to training! /s

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Imagine a Michael Phelps on meth swimming for medal 30.

Simply superior. The man wouldn't have even needed water.

Y'all know that doping usually refers to performance enhancing drugs right?

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.

I think they were joking, but that's a good clarification.

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

Cannabis doesn't enhance your performance in swimming.

That's not the point.

It absolutely is the point.

It's still a banned substance.

Despite what some weirdos think doping has a very specific colloquial definition. It indicates performance enhancing substances. Drugs that give you an edge in competition. As pot does not do that it's clearly not the point. Everyone on Earth knows what Phelps is talking about here.

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".[286]

USA Swimming selects U.S. Olympians.

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

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This is about Anti-Doping not banned substances. Do you not understand the discrepancy?

I'll just keep pasting this...

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”.[286]

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

USA Swimming selects American Olympic athletes.

And it'll keep being irrelevant.

It was a banned substance, he used it and got suspended. How is it irrelevant?

THC≠Doping

It is. It calms you down, improving performance in sports like darts, shooting, etc...

That's why it's on the ban list.

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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.

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

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

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