Katie Ledecky hopes for ‘clean’ swimmers at Olympics after Chinese doping row

Katie Ledecky referred to allegations of Chinese doping during her opening press conference at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday, saying she hopes to see “clean” athletes in the coming weeks.

Twenty-three Chinese swimmers tested positive for the banned drug trimetazidine, just months before the last Olympic Games in Tokyo. They were allowed to compete after the World Anti-Doping Agency accepted a statement from Chinese authorities that the athletes had stayed in a hotel with a contaminated kitchen.

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 competes clean this week,” Ledecky said. “But what really matters is, did they train clean? Hopefully they did. Hopefully there was testing all over the world.”

The IOC announced Wednesday that Salt Lake City will host the 2034 Winter Olympics, but added a clause requiring Utah officials to lobby the U.S. government to drop an FBI investigation into Chinese doping allegations.

“I think everyone has heard what the athletes are thinking,” Ledecky said. “They want transparency. They want more answers to the questions that are still out there. At this point, we’re here to race. We’re going to race whoever is on the track next to us. We’re not the ones who get paid to do the testing, so we’re hoping that the people who are doing the testing follow their own rules. That’s true now and in the future.”

Ledecky is a heavy favorite to retain her 1500m and 800m freestyle titles, but will also compete 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 do well in the shorter distance.

“I’m looking forward to the 400 freestyle, day one. I have a good chance,” 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 amazing athletes and I’ve had the chance to race them a few times over the years, especially Summer who trains in the U.S.,” she said. “It’s always fun to race against the best. We’re the top three athletes ever in that race, it just makes for a great field, a great race.

“Those two have continued to improve their game, improve my game, and I know I have to show my best,” she said. “I think they know they have to show their best.”