Once an outsider mocked by fellow lawmakers for his far-right positions, constant use of expletives and even casual dressing, former army captain Jair Bolsonaro is taking office as Brazil’s president Tuesday. A fan of U.S. President Donald Trump, the 63-year-old longtime congressman rose to power on an anti-corruption and pro-gun agenda that has energized Brazilian conservatives and hard-right supporters after four consecutive presidential election wins by the left-leaning Workers’ Party. Bolsonaro is the latest of several far-right leaders around the world who have come to power by riding waves of anger at the establishment and promises to ditch the status quo.
Testifying before a congressional hearing on improving anti-doping measures, Michael Phelps has expressed frustration over seeing others cheat and says athletes need to believe the system works.
The retired swimmer said Tuesday he has a hard time understanding how athletes get around anti-doping tests and that when they do, it's "disillusioning." Phelps, the most decorated Olympian with 28 medals, asked the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations to help "ensure the system is fair and reliable."
Phelps said he doesn't believe he has always been in competitions in which the entire field was clean.
Shot putter Adam Nelson, who received a gold medal after the original winner at the 2004 Athens Olympics tested positive for doping, told his story and asked Congress to "give meaning to my medal." Nelson picked up his gold medal at the food court at the Atlanta airport but said it didn't mean the same.
U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis Tygart was also scheduled to testify.
