Katie Ledecky referenced allegations around Chinese doping in her opening press conference at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, saying she hopes to face “clean” athletes in the coming weeks.
Twenty-three Chinese swimmers tested positive for the banned drug trimetazidine months before the last Olympics, in Tokyo, but were still allowed to compete after the World Anti-Doping Agency accepted an explanation from Chinese authorities that the athletes had stayed at a hotel with a contaminated kitchen.
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Some of those swimmers will compete in Paris. Ledecky, a seven-time Olympic champion, was asked about doping in her sport.
“I hope everyone here is going to be competing clean this week,” Ledecky said. “But what really matters also is: Were they training clean? Hopefully, that’s been the case. Hopefully, there’s been even testing around the world.”
On Wednesday, the IOC announced that Salt Lake City will host the 2034 Winter Olympics but inserted a clause that requires official in Utah to lobby the US government to drop an FBI investigation into the Chinese doping allegations.
“I think everyone’s heard what the athletes think,” Ledecky said. “They want transparency. They want further answers to the questions that still remain. At this point, we’re here to race. We’re going to race whoever’s in the lanes next to us. We’re not the ones paid to do the testing, so we hope that the people that are follow their own rules. That applies now and into the future.”
Ledecky is the a heavy favourite to retain her titles in the 1500m and 800m freestyle, but is also competing in the 400m where she will face formidable competition from Australia’s Ariarne Titmus and Canada’s Summer McIntosh. The 27-year-old said she believes she can compete over the shorter distance though.
“I’m looking forward to the 400 free, day one. I like my chances,” she said. “I feel like I’m prepared and ready to race and that’s all you can ask for.”
Ledecky said Titmus and McIntosh have helped her become a better swimmer.
“They’re great athletes and I’ve had the chance to race them quite a few times over the years now, especially Summer who has been training in the US,” she said. “It’s always fun to race the best. We are the top three performers ever in that race, that just makes for a great field, a great race.
“Those two have continued to raise the game, raise my game, and I know I have to bring my best,” she said. “I think they know they also have to bring their best.”
