I have spent some time with her family at swim meets. I also have family near them in Bethesda. I have sat down with her for a bit. I know her pool intimately, as well as the local community.
The entire family is very "establishment", but not "establishment leaders". While there are some nutjob "establishment leaders" who do whatever it takes to get to the top and stay there, she and the rest of her family seem to me to be very earnest people, very institutional, enjoying their mid-level establishment life, and very conservative, not wanton risk-takers.
Yes they/she are connected to money, and there is no financial incentive to dope. She drives an older Volvo, very typical of a certain class in Bethesda.
I'm not saying that I particularly like that type of person or family--in fact, I prefer more lively, risk-taking, edgier, more unpredictable and unconventional people--but I do respect them. They are salt of the earth, even though they are no doubt sucking the public teat, as is ultimately EVERYBODY living in the capitol area.
There is absolutely zero possibility of her doping. There would be absolutely nothing for anybody involved, except for possibly a coach, to gain. Her parents narcissistic? You have no idea how ridiculous, even hilarious, that is. They are so low-key that they are almost bland, especially her dad--but although unassuming, he's actually pretty funny in person. Her mom, you can feel the athletic talent in her, but I certainly wouldn't call her even "exciting".
One reason for KL's success in the distance events is that they have not had the same intensity of interest as have the shorter races. The records were certainly relatively "weak", but KL has seen to that. I'm talking the 800 and especially the 1500, which not even swimmers want to swim.
The 400 was tougher, but is still a sort of distance swim, and therefore still relatively weak. 200 is middle distance, and is tougher, with middle distance pain. Because it's no longer distance the records are better, and will be harder for KL to get. In fact even the 2016 gold will be much harder for her to get, and is by no means a lock. By the time you get to the 100, she is in the weeds historically; and she is nothing in the 50. The 100 and 50 records are the strongest.
Although she is a workout monster, there have been other swimmers, both male and female, who have also been workout monsters. Her career might be best summed-up in the words of Thornton Mellon, "If you want to look thin, hang around fat people."
She is absolutely clean, unless having been unknowingly doped by someone such as her coach, or a cook at a restaurant she frequents. I actually would bet the farm on it.
And by absolutely clean, I mean totally clean, squeaky clean. Not even a trace of anything funny including anything found in so-called "energy drinks" or common supplements.
KL is beyond all suspicion. She is so good that she's boring, unless you are watching her in a tight race, fighting for the win.
If you are suspicious of a successful swimmer doping, look to Hosszu. And that's not nationalism speaking--I am not American, but Hungarian.
