USOC supports greater anti-doping independence, other reforms
For months as the Russian doping scandal unfolded, U.S. Olympic Committee leaders have acknowledged the anti-doping system is flawed. On Friday, they voiced their support in how to fix it.
Following the USOC’s board meeting on Thursday, it released a position paper that called for an independent doping authority with the power to suspend sport and anti-doping organizations.
“Systematic doping requires a systematic and proportional response,” the USOC said in its paper. “There should be sanctions not only against proven perpetrators, but against anyone who knew or should have known about a doping violation.”
Anti-doping governance has become the focus of reform in the wake of a Russian doping scandal in which two investigations commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency found widespread and state-sponsored doping in the country.
U.S. Anti-Doping CEO Travis Tygart supported a ban of Russia in Rio, one the International Olympic Committee did not adopt, and has advocated with other leaders of National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) for changes.
Tygart testified before a Congressional subcommittee last month, arguing greater independence would improve the functioning of WADA and anti-doping globally.
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Currently, sport leaders make up part of WADA’s governance — including IOC member Craig Reedie serving as WADA’s president.
“WADA should be governed independently of the sports organizations it watches and works with, and needs to have clear, transparent policies of governance,” the USOC statement says.
It notes those serving in governance with the Olympic and sport organizations should not serve in governance for WADA.
The USOC board met with Tygart and board chairman Edwin Moses on Thursday.
Tygart explained the positions USADA and 16 other anti-doping organizations took in a statement from the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations (iNADO) in Copenhagen in August.
Those are echoed in the USOC position paper, which calls for a strengthened WADA that has oversight of NADOs, a role in athlete testing and ensuring compliance of anti-doping organizations and laboratories; increased funding for WADA from governments and the IOC; due process rights for athletes and others; and protections for whistleblowers.
“The U.S. Olympic Committee stands with every clean athlete around the world in promoting integrity, health and every athlete’s fundamental right to compete in clean sport,” the USOC said in its paper. “We are a committed to partnering with the global sport community to ensure sport remains a fair and unifying force for good that inspires everyone to achieve more.”
WADA on Thursday announced a digital platform for people to securely report anti-doping violations. It is holding its annual symposium in Lausanne, Switzerland, next week, which is what USOC CEO Scott Blackmun said prompted the discussion on Thursday.
“It was really just a discussion around the importance of independence more than anything else and drilling down on the different levels of independence between the executive function and the governance function and the judicial function,” Blackmun said.
Asked if the USOC talked about Tygart’s outspoken comments affecting Los Angeles’ bid to host the 2024 Games, Blackmun said the board did not.
For his part, LA 2024 chairman Casey Wasserman said he is not worried about Tygart’s comments.
“I think independent testing organizations are best when they remain independent,” he said.
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