Gabby Thomas just went off on Instagram, and she didn’t hold back. “Doping coaches should be banned for life from coaching in the sport. Whether you were banned while competing as an athlete or caught distributing as a coach (for some, both). Idc idc idc,” she declared, calling out the system she believes failed her and demanding accountability.

So, what exactly happened? Well, the 28-year-old seems to be fed up with how USADA operates within the track-and-field community. Thomas is particularly frustrated with the drug-testing system and now wants USADA to focus strictly on eliminating those who resort to illicit practices.

After her Instagram comments, Thomas further emphasized that athletes should never train under coaches with a history of doping. But she didn’t stop there. Taking her message to Instagram and then to X, the Olympian doubled down: “When I graduated from college, I came into this sport sooo naive. After six years, I just want better for athletes. We deserve it. My goal is to leave this sport better than I found it,” writes Thomas.

Well, is Gabby Thomas right in her crusade? Let’s rewind to the infamous standoff: Back in May 2020, Gabby Thomas was banned by the AIU for allegedly missing three tests in 12 months. As per the anti-doping rules, this was a whereabouts failure. But Thomas fired back, insisting she had proof, phone tracking data, and multiple witnesses ready to confirm she was exactly where she said she’d be. Her claim?

The doping officer failed to follow proper protocol. Though time has passed, the sting hasn’t faded.

In addition to  his comments, the Olympian believes there needs to be far more transparency between athletes and the drug-testing agencies, as the way officials handle athletes can often feel troubling. Take last July, for instance; Thomas was simply enjoying a good time with her friends when anti-doping officers suddenly showed up. While she laughed it off in a now-viral “Your friend Steve” reel on her social media handle. The official authority was present to collect her samples, as all athletes log their whereabouts in the app, allowing officials to visit them between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Well, the Olympian expects some level of respect between the organization and athletes, but, interestingly, her comments came at a time when a U.S. marathon runner also slammed the anti-doping system.

Emma Bates slams the anti-doping system amidst Ruth Chepngetich’s controversy

So, what went down? Ruth Chepngetich is a powerhouse in marathon running, best known for her record-shattering 2:09:56 at the 2024 Chicago Marathon, a women’s world record. She had earlier outpaced Emma Bates in Chicago 2021, a loss Bates graciously accepted. But now, fresh headlines have thrown that old chapter back into the spotlight. Why? Well, Chepngetich tested positive for a banned substance, and she has been given a provisional suspension.

As per the Athletics Integrity Unit (AUI), Chepngetich tested positive for hydromethiazide. Reacting to this fiasco, Emma Bates took to her Instagram handle, uploading a photo of the 2021 Chicago Marathon and wrote, “While I won’t say that would have been me in 2021 or Emily Sisson in 2022, who also placed second in Chicago behind Ruth, to think we may have been cheated out of having that moment is a hard pill to swallow.”

She further added, “We may never have proof that Ruth was cheating when she won the 2021 Chicago Marathon or during her other global wins. But for me, it’s difficult to imagine that Ruth and her disgraced agent, Fredrico Rosa, discovered banned substances only after her major global wins. Not to mention that Rosa has had a hall of fame career tied to many high-profile athletes with doping charges.” 

Losing your chance to shine on the global stage, only to later find out that your opponent was a banned substance offender, certainly hurts. But does Bates’ statement truly hold weight? We’ll leave that for you to decide.