“Supposed to Be Protecting Us”: Caeleb Dressel Joins Katie Ledecky in Holding Swimming Doping Controversies Accountable

Success does not have a simple route. After spending 12 years in the realm of elite swimming and winning 7 Olympic gold medals, Caeleb Dressel knows a thing or two about this adage. He reflected this in his statement when the Olympics. com asked him about his journey in his swimming career thus far. His first response could only match an everyday battle with himself and the constraints he faces from his competitors. 

Yet, the 27-year-old does not complain about it as he knows that his success has come after toiling all those hard days in the pool. Naturally, Caeleb Dressel cannot bear those swimmers who often resort to doping to get easy success, a quick fix in today blase world. Furthermore, he does not hide his discomfort over the watchdogs who belittle issues like doping and try to sweep such issues under the carpet. A few days ago, ‘the golden girl’, Katie Ledecky, voiced ‘Clean play’ in swimming. Dressel has now done his part by extending his support as well. How exactly did these two firebrand athletes come in clutch regarding this blot on society?

Caeleb Dressel counts the criminals and the system under the same light 

In his interview with WWD, Caeleb Dressel gave a fiery response on the involvement of the swimmers who rely on performance-enhancing drugs. Calling them ‘cheaters’, the Olympian blamed them for disrupting the meaning of employing hard work in the sport. But at the same time, Caeleb pointed out that such things should have been brought to justice and fair resolution by the watchdogs who are at the helm. However, he has yet to lose hope from such authorities as WADA and FINA. Rather, the former world record holder said, “I would like to be able to put more of my trust in the organizations that are supposed to be protecting us.” Soon, the discussion elevated to a different point. 

It was about the Russian athletes who had once faced a ban from WADA because of their involvement. However, later the same athletes found a way to enter the Tokyo Olympics, participating under a neutral flag. Caeleb Dressel does not find any logic behind such a participation chance. Further, he believes that once the bad habit has seeped into the system, it won’t go out because of the muscle memory. The alleged doping issue among the Chinese swimmers also is another point of contention here. 

As per the report published by the New York Times and German broadcaster ARD, 23 top Chinese swimmers had been found guilty before the Tokyo Olympics because of consuming performance-enhancing elements. However, WADA didn’t block their entry to the Paris Olympics. In supporting their decision, WADA put a seal on the Chinese body’s logic, blaming the food contamination for contributing to the issue. However, Katie Ledecky did not have much belief in such a theatrical response. 

She responded, “… It’s tough to accept as an athlete, and now also to feel what it’s like to be an athlete who won a [silver] medal behind some athletes who tested positive — I now know what that feels like.” Naturally, there had been several swimmers who bore the brunt as the allegedly ‘blamed’ swimmers took the podiums. Meanwhile, Caeleb Dressel said that he wants to invest his time in removing an issue like doping after his retirement. However, a lot of swimmers have displayed their uneasiness about the brewing problem of doping and the alleged Chinese fiasco. 

The swimming world doesn’t want to deal with the offenders 

After the news regarding the alleged Chinese doping issue had been made to the public, several swimmers came forward to protest against the authorities and the ‘blamed’ swimmers. At that time as well, Katie Ledecky remained the first and the foremost to unveil it all. The 10-time Olympic medalist supported USA Swimming’s statement against the fiasco on X. Soon, she was followed by another swimming legend, Adam Peaty. 

The British swimmer forwarded two viable questions based on the inactivity of WADA and the overall secrecy on the matter. Noteworthy, Peaty has never received a positive response from WADA. Rather, the authority brushed it under the carpet, calling the entire fiasco a clear case of ‘accidental contamination’. But that answer couldn’t satisfy James Guy, Peaty’s compatriot. 

He slammed the IOC and WADA and told them to ban all the ‘blamed’ Chinese swimmers. Moreover, he batted for the swimmers who lost their medals after facing defeat by the ‘blamed’ Chinese swimmers in the Tokyo Olympics. Needless to say, nothing has happened till now on that front. But the awareness created mught usher in some change. That might soothe swimmers like Katie Ledecky, Caeleb Dressel, and others.