IOC, WADA question why US exempt from Rodchenkov
The International Olympic Committee ( IOC) on Tuesday acknowledged the passing of the Rodchenkov Anti- Doping Act ( RADA) in the US Senate but questioned why American professional and college athletes are exempt from the legislation.
The Rodchenkov Act, named after the whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov who helped expose Russia’s state- sponsored doping, will give US justice officials the ability to pursue criminal penalties against anyone involved in doping at international events involving American athletes, sponsors or broadcasters.
The legislation, passed unopposed in the US Senate on Monday, now only needs the signature of the president to become law.
Professional leagues and college sports in the US were included in the original draft of the bill, according to the World Anti- Doping Agency ( WADA), but were later removed. They also do not adhere to the World Anti- Doping Code.
“The IOC continues to encourage the US professional leagues, in which the most popular American athletes play, and the
US college sports organization ( NCAA), from which the vast majority of the most successful US athletes come, to apply the World Anti- Doping Code,” the IOC said in a statement.
“Unfortunately, they are exempt from this new Act, and they have so far not accepted the World Anti- Doping Code.”
WADA also expressed concerns over the bill, saying it will destabilize the global anti- doping effort by extending US jurisdiction beyond its own borders while giving US professional and college athletes a free pass.
“We join other stakeholders around the globe in asking why this US legislation, which purports to protect athletes and claims jurisdiction overseas, specifically excludes the hugely popular and influential professional and college leagues,” said WADA president Witold Banka.
“These leagues were originally included in the Act but were subsequently removed without explanation.
“If it is not good enough for American sports, why is it being imposed on the rest of the world?”
The United States Anti- Doping Agency said there was no need to include US professional and college sports in the legislation since they could already be prosecuted under existing laws.
“First, the WADA Code is the lynchpin to RADA applying,” said USADA in an email to Reuters. “It will apply in the US when events are subject to the Code, like the Olympic Games and World Baseball Classic.
“Additionally, US professional leagues and college athletics are already at risk of criminal prosecution under existing US domestic law for orchestrating doping conspiracies.
“Any conspiracy to distribute and administer performance- enhancing drugs is already a felony under US conspiracy, narcotics, and fraud laws, which carry stiff sentences.”
Athlete groups view the Rodchenkov Act as tool to bring justice to the anti- doping effort.
WADA said it recognized positive elements of the US bill but added that many of its members fear tit- for- tat legislation that would undermine the fight against doping.
“No nation has ever before asserted criminal jurisdiction over doping offenses that occurred outside its national borders – and for good reason,” said WADA.
“WADA remains concerned that by unilaterally exerting US criminal jurisdiction over all global doping activity, the Act will likely undermine clean sport by jeopardizing critical partnerships and cooperation between nations.”
Bach: Athletes won’t be forced to get COVID- 19 vaccinations
IOC President Thomas Bach said this week that athletes would not be forced to get COVID- 19 vaccinations ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, but he said they should as a “demonstration of solidarity” with the Japanese.
Bach visited the Athletes’ Village on Tuesday before concluding his two- day Tokyo trip with a visit to the National Stadium.
“We will encourage athletes that whenever possible they have the vaccination because it is better for their health, and it is also a demonstration of solidarity with their fellow athletes and also the Japanese people,” said the German.
Bach’s trip, his first to Japan since the decision to postpone the Games in March, has been up- beat throughout and he has spoken about the great impact a vaccine could have on Tokyo’s ability to host the Olympics next year.
More than 11,000 athletes are expected to descend upon Tokyo for the Olympics, which are due to begin on July 23, with thousands more coming for the subsequent Paralympics.
However, when pressed whether athletes were going to jump the queue to get any potential vaccine before the Games, Bach was adamant this wouldn’t be the case.
“We made it clear from the very beginning that the first priorities are for the nurses, medical doctors and everybody who keeps our society alive, despite the coronavirus crisis,” Bach told reporters at the National Stadium.
“These are the people who deserve to be the first ones to be vaccinated.”
Tokyo 2020 organizers are holding a project review meeting this week and hope to decide on a range of COVID- 19 counter- measures, including whether spectators will be allowed in venues.
A small group of anti- Olympics protesters gathered outside the stadium during Bach’s visit, and their chanted slogans could be heard as he walked alone down the running track and looked up at the empty seats surrounding him. ( Reuters)