GLOBAL ATHLETE PLEDGES SUPPORT TO THE RODCHENKOV ANTI-DOPING ACT
5 September 2019: The Athlete-led Movement for change Global Athlete has today pledged its support to the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act (RADA), and its rapid passage through the U.S. Congress.
The Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act has been introduced in both the U.S. House of Representatives (as H.R.835) and the U.S. Senate (as S.259) and has now been endorsed by major stakeholders in the American and international anti-doping and sport landscape, including the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Hockey League (NHL), U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), USOPC Athletes’ Advisory Council, FairSport, TRACE International and a number of the leading National Governing Bodies in the United States.
The Director General of Global Athlete, Rob Koehler, together with members of the Global Athlete Start-Up Group stated: “The Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act comes at a crucial time for the international fight against doping in sport. The Russian doping fraud scandal shook the very foundations of the global anti-doping system and the problem shows no signs of stopping. Most recently, at the Nordic World Ski Championships, yet another doping ring was uncovered by law enforcement. Greater deterrents are needed.
“The ultimate victims of doping fraud are clean athletes, who want nothing more than to compete on a level playing field. There are countless examples of U.S. athletes who have been defrauded by international doping fraud conspiracies. These athletes are deprived of Olympic glory and denied their rightful prize money and sponsorships.
“Fully compatible with the UNESCO Convention Against Doping in Sport and the World Anti-Doping Code, the RADA greatly enhances the fight against doping by creating additional legal tools to help guard against the type of behavior discovered in the Russian doping scandal. By criminalizing international doping conspiracies, RADA provides law enforcement with a greater ability to investigate and pursue, and ultimately hold accountable, doping fraud perpetrators. In addition, criminalizing this act will provide doping whistleblowers the same protections that are given to whistleblowers of other serious crimes.
“The Act also provides for restitution to athletes and others who may have been defrauded by these individuals. Importantly, the bill excludes criminalizing the conduct of athletes, recognizing that the focus must be on the support personnel, corrupt administrators, criminal traffickers and those others who perpetuate doping networks,” they added.
Global Athlete has written to representatives of the House Judiciary Committee including Chairman Jerold Nadler and Ranking Member Doug Collins, to pledge its endorsement of RADA.
ENDS