"If you test positive, you should never be allowed to compete again, plain and simple," said the most decorated Olympian of all time. "I believe it's one strike and you're out," Phelps reaffirmed.

Before the start of the Games, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and World Aquatics revealed that nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers tested positive for the banned substance trimetazidine during a pre-Tokyo 2020 test.

It is worth noting that these results did not come to light until this year, when reports surfaced, and both organizations accepted the Chinese explanation that the positives were due to "food contamination."

Nine of those 23 swimmers under scrutiny won medals, several as part of relay teams, in Paris. This situation prompted many swimming legends to speak out.

One of them was the English star Adam Peaty, who complained that the playing field was not level and made a biting remark aimed at the swimmers involved in the scandal: "There’s no point in winning if you don’t do it fairly."

Another big name joined this call to action: none other than Phelps. 'The Baltimore Bullet' echoed Peaty’s sentiments and confessed that the Chinese swimmers who tested positive "should not have been allowed to compete in Tokyo or Paris, or anywhere else." The 23-time Olympic champion was unequivocal.

"If everyone isn’t subjected to the same tests, I have a major issue because it means the level of the sport is not fair and not even," he stated. "If you take that risk, you have no place here," explained the 39-year-old former swimmer in his speech.

One remembers when Phelps dominated the international swimming scene between 2004 and 2016. Twelve years of setting and breaking various records, becoming the greatest Olympian of all time. Phelps was aware that many detractors scrutinized his performances due to his overwhelming superiority. 

Many doubted he could achieve such results without pharmaceutical support. Phelps recalled during his argument that he even underwent "additional tests" before Beijing 2008, willing to dispel any doubts that he was competing cleanly.

"Throughout my career, people called me a cheater," the Baltimore swimmer claimed. "I underwent more tests every week. Why? To be able to say I don’t cheat, that I’m clean." Claims that undoubtedly led him to recall his great achievement: "I won 23 Olympic gold medals clean. It can be done."

Additionally, the legendary athlete did not hesitate to point out the stench he felt when competing: "I don’t think I ever competed on a level playing field or in a clean field," he warned about the small details that made him think competitions were adulterated when he swam. "I have some suspicions about some athletes I competed against and thought were doping. But that's out of my control," Phelps revealed.

As the years have passed, Phelps has positioned himself as a champion of mental health and fairness in sports. In fact, a few weeks ago, he testified before the United States Congress about anti-doping organizations and their system, which, according to the swimmer’s speech, "is broken" and needs "reform."

"If you test positive, you should never be allowed to compete again." And there he lent support to his colleague Peaty. He said he understood the frustration of athletes like the Briton, whose team finished fourth in the men’s 4x100 meter freestyle relay last week, in a race where the Chinese took gold.

"It breaks my heart to see people who work so hard for four years straight to prepare for a Games and then have someone take that effort away by cheating," Phelps responded when asked about the situation. "It's not right. I stand by it and always will," the American athlete concluded.