Michael Phelps says he doesn’t think he has ever competed in a clean sport

MICHAEL Phelps has condemned the entire sporting world for failing to conquer the war on drugs as his fifth Olympic Games at Rio descends into a doping farce.

Michael Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time.

THE greatest Olympian of all-time Michael Phelps has condemned the entire sporting world for failing to conquer the war on drugs as his fifth Olympic Games at Rio descends further into a doping farce.

Phelps has taken aim at swimming’s governing body FINA, the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency for routinely failing to rid sport of drugs cheats.

Phelps, who was named to be USA’s opening ceremony flagbearer, claimed he has never raced in a clean sport during his decorated 16-year career that started way back at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

“I will say the same thing I’ve always said and I think I speak for all the athletes as well, I want clean sports that is all,” Phelps said.

“We want everybody to be on the same playing field. For me I’m the only one I can control and I can control myself. That is all I focus on.

“I think I can honestly say in my whole career I don’t know if I have ever competed in a clean sport.

“There is something that needs to change, but in all sports not just swimming.

“As athletes you want to be able to compete on an even playing field.

“We have had this problem for how many Olympics now and how many times does this come up?

“It’s sad. That’s really what it is, it is really sad that we can’t control it. That somebody who was in charge cannot control this.”

While the Australian swim team went out of their way to avoid discussing the Russian doping crisis that has left a giant cloud hanging over these Games, the US swim team voiced their disgust at what has left a black mark against all sport.

“From a team perspective we’re just focussing on getting the best performances that we can regardless of the circumstances,” US head coach Bob Bowman said.

“But I would like to say from a personal stand point, it’s very concerning to me that our governing bodies have dropped the ball in many ways on this.

“Our system is broken and it has to be fixed.”

Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time with 22 medals including 18 golds, has been named as the flagbearer for the US team at thie opening ceremony this Friday (Saturday EST).

He was chosen for the honour following a vote of Team USA members.

“I’m honoured to be chosen, proud to represent the US, and humbled by the significance of carrying the flag and all it stands for,” he said.

“For Sydney, I just wanted to make the team. For Athens, I wanted to win gold for my country. For Beijing, I wanted to do something nobody else had done.

“In London, I wanted to make history. And now, I want to walk in the Opening Ceremony, take it all in, represent America in the best possible way and make my family proud.

“This time around, it’s about so much more than medals.”

Friday’s opening ceremony takes place at the Maracana Stadium, the iconic Brazilian football cathedral which sits under the gaze of Rio’s iconic Christ the Redeemer Statue.

Originally published as Michael Phelps says he doesn’t think he has ever competed in a clean sport