The United States Anti-Doping Committee (USADA) has released their 2013 quarter 2 testing statistics, and there is still no Michael Phelps on the list.
This means that his retirement, through the end of June, was still official.
Remember that there is a 9-month waiting period where an athlete has to be back in the testing pool after retirement before competing in an official meet.
With next year’s Pan Pac Trials running from August 6th-10th, 2014 any athletes who wish to come out of retirement has to be back in the testing pool by November 5th, 2013 technically speaking, but realistically they would have to be in at least a few weeks before that if they still needed to qualify for Nationals (yes, even Olympic Champions are required to have Nationals qualifying times).
Three swimmers, all multiple-time national champions, were tested double-digit times in that three-month period. Note that these tests include all in-and-out-of-competition testing done by the USADA, but not those done by other organizations.
Connor Jaeger was tested 10 times, Missy Franklin was tested 11 times, and Ryan Lochte was also tested 11 times. It’s likely that many of these tests came at Nationals.
For Jaeger, further evidence of how quickly he’s risen to national and international prominence: coming into this 2nd quarter, he had only been tested by the USADA 3 times in his career.
In total, the USADA conducted 290 total tests on 111 athletes in the 2nd quarter of 2013. That’s 220 more than in the 1st quarter (and an additional 30 athletes tested), as a result of those tests done at the USA Swimming National Championships.
How many times did Ledecky get tested?
any idea where i can find same stats for China?
I don’t mean to cast aspersions on any one particular swimmer or athlete, but I see justification in testing a high school athlete if they will be rewarded with a full ride scholarship to a major university. How many young swimmers dream of doing just that…and very few get a chance to even walk on at a program like Michigan or Stanford.
i have thought since the first word that michael phelps was going to retire (circa the bong incident and aftermath) a reason people can’t believe michael phelps is going to retire is analogies to other athletes. i know basketball the best after swimming, so i’ll say jordan and magic both retired then came back. i think most kids don’t want to beleive he is done either. so regardless of what anyone says, michael could be 55 and people may very well still be talking about his eventual return to competitive swimming.
that being said, 10 times drug testing a highschool athlete? i understand you want to save the US from embarassment, but that sounds excessive. i mean, maybe i’m… Read more »
Why don’t many of you believe in his retirement?
It’s curious.
Again, why would he come back?
If you look at all the great athletes, this is something they all struggle with. It’s psychological. They miss the action, the limelight and the adrenalin rush. Top athletes also have an ego and the need to return to a sport they love can often cloud judgment. So many of them return and try for a second run.
Money is also a huge motivating factor! If Michael decides to return to the sport it would be a huge marketing event with multiple endorsements in the multimillion dollar range!
Perhaps but Michael has gone with the best possible end. A gold medal in the medley relay. And I want to keep the image of a legend who has retired at the top. Best example for me is Pete Sampras. His last match was a win at the US Open in 2002. You can’t dream a better end for an American tennis player.
That’s why I don’t want a Michael’s come back.
Pete Sampras was the exception and I agree that going out when you are on top is the perfect ending BUT it is not about us!!
Unfortunately it is never about what “we” want and our images of the top athletes. Phelps decision (if he ever changes it) will have nothing to do about what we want. It will be about whether “he” believes he can suffer through all the training again!
If he does come back he will focus on one or two events only! 100 fly and ??
Pete Sampras was languishing for a few years not winning slam and losing matches to Hewitt etc., all stars lined up for him in that 2002 USO though.
I believe he will come back.
Time will tell.
Just curious about the testing of high school and college athletes — I know the testers can come any time they want. But I wonder if they usually keep it to appearing at their home/dorm, practice, or do they show up while the kid’s in class?
evilwatersprite – each athlete in the pool has to make himself or herself available for one hour each day between 6AM and 11PM. If that athlete chooses to make himself or herself available at school, it would be his or her choice. They don’t have to be available all day. If you hear someone talking about “Whereabouts filings,” that’s what they’re referring to.
Alright, come on guys.
You cover up at the end of this article by mentioning other athletes that went through double-digit testing through the last year by the USADA. But lets be honest….
… You need to deal with the fact that Phelps has retired. Yes, he changed the sport, how swimmers are viewed, and almost single handedly changed the level of opportunity available for swimmers gone pro. He is, was, and forever shall be amazing, if not the MOST amazing.
BUT THINGS MUST GO ON. We’ve got a capable contingent of current Pro American Swimmers, with some seriously gifted NAG record holders coming through the ranks going into college, and a Junior Nat. team looking to dominate. They… Read more »
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this article is about who’s in the pool of doping tests by USADA, not about national age record holders (and if you missed it, there have been hundreds of articles on this website alone on various junior record holders, both USA and internationals).
The potential come back of Michael Phelps, The GOAT swimmer, is a huge news and this article correctly made a mention of that potential.
As for this “‘America continues outstanding streak of dope-free professionals in 2013, according to the USADA’?”,
are you kidding me?
It blurbs Michael Phelps and you’re freaking out?
What’s really on your mind?
any data on how many out of competition tests?
aswimfan – the USADA doesn’t specify the difference between the two.