Michael Phelps takes centre stage in the push for global anti-doping reforms

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Michael Phelps Retires After Winning 23rd Olympic Gold His frustration at a perceived lack of progress in the battle against performance enhancing drugs in sport was palpable as he called on the World Anti-Doping Agency to do more to tackle drugs cheats. The time to act is now.” open image in gallery Phelps is sworn in during a Oversight and Investigations hearing The U.S. government provides funding for the World Anti-Doping Agency budget and the House committee that Phelps addressed can make recommendations on any funding increases they feel necessary to improve the current system. Instead, the Usada hope his enormous public profile will help to apply extra leverage on the IOC to change tact in the fight against drugs cheats, having been criticised for their soft treatment of Russia ahead of Rio 2016. open image in gallery Tygart wants to see Wada made independent from the IOC Tygart expressed these frustrations: by ignoring calls to ban Russia from the Rio Olympics and leaving the decision to the 28 individual sport governing bodies, he said, the IOC had proven itself to be toothless and unwilling to get touch on state- "At least two Olympic Games were corrupted and at the Rio Games this past August, scores of Russian athletes were allowed to compete without credible anti-doping measures," Tygart added. “Well done.” A solitary man no more, the Olympic legend could yet prove to be crucial in the campaign to fight against the use of performance enhancing drugs in sport.