Swimming authorities need to increase the number of doping tests to preserve the sport’s credibility and stop fans turning away, Britain’s triple world champion and double world record holder Adam Peaty said.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is investigating allegations of Russian state doping and an alleged coverup of positive tests in China that have rocked the sport.
China, who issued warning penalties to two swimmers on Monday who failed tests, and Russia have denied coverup claims.
Photo: AFP
Peaty, the 50m and 100m breaststroke world record holder who won three golds at last year’s world championships in Russia, said testing needed to be weekly to prove the sport was clean.
“I know testing week-on-week is expensive, but what is more expensive is swimmers coming out as cheats and then people not watching,” he was quoted as saying by British media. “I’ve just been tested three times in the past few weeks and that’s how it should be. I hope they catch the cheats before the Olympics because it’s going to ruin the sport otherwise. Olympic champions shouldn’t be someone who has cheated to get there.”
The 21-year-old, preparing for Olympic trials next month, said he could become a victim of association if he was successful at the Aug. 5 to Aug. 21 Rio de Janeiro Games.
“It’s ruining the reputation of all sports,” he said. “If it happens any more, people are going to be looking on TV and saying: ‘He’s a cheat.’ If I win Olympic gold and people look at me as a cheat because I’ve won, it’s hugely disrespectful.”
Russian sport was thrown into turmoil last year when a WADA report exposed endemic cheating and corruption in Russian athletics, resulting in the country being suspended from international competition.
Russia’s track and field team could miss the Olympics if the country fails to overturn the ban, but Peaty was against blaming entire nations for the alleged swimming problems.
“Hopefully I’ll line up against Russians and they will be as hard working as I am — that’s the way it should be,” he said.
“If you line up against a doper, no matter from what country, it’s wrong, but I’m not going to blame a whole country. In my eyes, that’s wrong because there are hard-working people,” he said. “I’m just going to race and leave it to WADA and [International Swimming Federation] FINA to sort it out.”
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care