Following Chinese Doping Scandal

Michael Phelps Calls for Lifetime Doping Bans

Following Chinese Doping Scandal

Phelps Maintains Stance on Anti-Doping

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

The 28-time Olympic medalist made his comments during an interview with CNN, saying that he believes doping is "cheating" and that those who engage in it should be punished severely.

"I think it's a shame," Phelps said. "I think it's unfair to the athletes who are clean and are working hard and doing it the right way. I think there needs to be some sort of punishment for those who are cheating."

Phelps' comments come after Chinese swimmer Sun Yang was banned for eight years for doping. Sun, who has won multiple Olympic medals, has denied the allegations, but the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has upheld the ban.

The Chinese swimming team has been under scrutiny in recent years, with several swimmers testing positive for banned substances. In 2019, the team was stripped of its gold medal in the women's 4x200-meter freestyle relay after one of its members, Li Bingjie, tested positive for a banned stimulant.

Phelps' call for lifetime doping bans is not new. In 2016, he said that he believed that anyone who tests positive for doping should be banned for life from the Olympics.

"I think if you're caught doping, you should be banned for life," Phelps said at the time. "I think it's that simple. I think it's cheating and it's not fair to the other athletes who are competing clean."