Multiple Olympic gold medallist Katie Ledecky expressed concerns on Wednesday about the unresolved case of Chinese athletes who failed doping tests, calling for greater transparency from authorities. The New York Times reported in April that 23 Chinese swimmers, including two who competed against Ledecky and her US teammates in Tokyo, tested positive for a banned substance just seven months before the Covid-delayed 2021 Games in Japan. Despite these findings, none of the swimmers were suspended or sanctioned as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accepted the Chinese authorities' explanation that the positive tests were due to food contamination at a hotel. This decision has been heavily criticized by several leading swimmers, including Ledecky, who previously stated that her trust in the anti-doping system was at an "all-time low".

During a USA swim team press conference, Ledecky highlighted the need for resolution, questioning the fairness of future races at the 2024 Paris Games. "I hope everyone here is competing clean this week. But it's also crucial to know if they were training clean," she told reporters. "We need transparency and further answers to the questions that still remain." Ledecky emphasized that the responsibility of ensuring a fair anti-doping process should not fall on the athletes themselves. "We are here to race, not to conduct the tests," she said. "We expect those responsible to adhere to their rules, both now and in the future, and we hope to see changes that prevent such issues in the future."

Ledecky also stressed the importance of out-of-competition testing to prevent athletes from gaining an unfair advantage. "If athletes are training with prohibited substances in their system, they are gaining an advantage," she explained. "That's why we are tested frequently and randomly, and we must keep our whereabouts updated at all times. We expect these rules to be applied fairly and consistently worldwide."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has supported WADA despite accusations from Travis Tygart, head of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), that WADA covered up the Chinese cases. This dispute was a topic during the IOC session in Paris. The IOC awarded the 2034 Winter Olympics to Salt Lake City but warned that the Games could be revoked if the US continued its conflict with WADA. John Coates, chairman of the IOC's legal commission, modified the host city contract to allow the IOC to remove the Games if US authorities did not respect WADA's "supreme authority".