This week, Michael Phelps appeared before a Congressional subcommittee to testify about the issue of doping, but a rival from Phelps’ past came forward this week with questions about why Phelps is tackling the issue post-retirement.
Serbian world champ Milorad Cavic openly questioned Phelps’ anti-doping stance in an open letter of sorts this week, posted on Twitter:
I also want a better future for our children, @MichaelPhelps … https://t.co/ybkem0QAw0 @swimswamnews @ioc @wada_ama @BBCSport @swimvortex pic.twitter.com/wE7rKCmFZM
— Milorad Cavic (@Milorad_Cavic) March 2, 2017
Cavic criticizes Phelps for speaking out for doping reform only after his retirement, suggesting Phelps hadn’t supported blood passports when he was still convenient. Cavic (also retired) suggested the timing of Phelps’ stand was “convenient,” and though he says he’s not suggesting Phelps is a cheat, he categorizes Phelps’ recovery rate as “nothing short of science fiction.”
The reference to blood passports may stem from a program Cavic tried to popularize back in 2009 where athletes would undergo “athlete biological passports” which track biological markers of doping and results of anti-doping tests over a series of years. Cavic wanted athletes (Phelps included) to make their results fully public on his website, according to an ESPN story from the time.
You can see Phelps’ testimony before the subcommittee here.
Phelps and Cavic went head to head in several Olympics, most notably the 2008 Beijing Games. Cavic very nearly ended Phelps’ dream of 8 gold medals at those games, pushing the 100 fly down to a touchout where Phelps won by just .01 seconds in one of the most dramatic finishes all-time.
Cavic does conclude his letter by expressing his hope that Phelps will continue to champion anti-doping causes to make a difference in the sport.
A full transcript of Cavic’s statement:
Dear Michael,
Doping has been a problem and it’s only getting worse. I, too, don’t know what to tell my son, nor would I wish that my son ever be half as good as I was knowing what he’ll face tomorrow. People get tested, some more than others… I could even recall Lance Armstrong getting tested 3x in one day and never failed once, but that’s not the problem. At the moment, we’re not able to detect new drugs and advanced methods of doping. Why you’re seeking reform now that you’re retired, and never before supported blood passports, is beyond us all, perhaps even convenient. I’m not suggesting you’re a cheat, you’ve gradually improved your times throughout your career, but your recovery rate is nothing short of science fiction… We all just wished we could understand it. Anyway, I really do hope that you’ll stick with this, because incase our sons go pro some day, I’d like to think you made a difference #NeverTooLate
If Phelps is Armstrong then swimming is cycling and Cavic is one of the top European cyclists who raced against him, and they were almost all on drugs too.
If anyone has seen Cavic lately it looks as if the only racing he’s been doing is to the fridge and back. I’m not saying he’s heavy, but his girth is nothing short of science fiction.
Remember when he was Michael Cavic? That was a long time ago. Remember when anyone cared about anything he had to say? That was a long time ago as well. I’m not aware of any recent work Cavic has done to insure doping control but it’s nice to see him try to be the Joker to Phelps’ Batman. I’m sure in Cavic’s mind he still thinks he’s relevant.
Wow!! Cavic literally just came for PHELPS! Haha wayyyy too much shade.
The future of doping is gene editing
Hey I almost forgot about Mr .01
Hi there Michael I think you are a very great swimmer keep up the great work please stay off the drugs and pay just keep swimming and do your best and keep getting all those gold medals for me please let me know when you do get more for me please thank you very much. Sincerely yours Veronica L Schenck I compete in special Olympics and I do the shot put and also do swimming too.
Ive met Cavic on a few occasions and the guy is totally haunted by phelps. he needs to continue moving on in his life; he is just coming off as a sore loser. Not very sportsmanlike