This file photo shows Travis Tygart, chief executive of the US Anti-Doping Agency, speaks to reporters at the sidelines of an anti-doping intelligence seminar in Singapore. (PHOTO / AFP)
The United States Senate on Monday passed a bill that would allow US justice officials to pursue criminal penalties against anyone involved in doping at an international events involving American athletes, sponsors or broadcasters.
The Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, which previously passed the House of Representatives unanimously, passed the Senate unopposed and needs to signature of the president to become law.
“The act will provide the tools needed to protect clean athletes and hold accountable international doping conspiracies that defraud sport, sponsors and that harm athletes,” said Travis Tygart, the head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
The Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, which previously passed the House of Representatives unanimously, passed the Senate unopposed and needs to signature of the president to become law
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“The act establishes criminal penalties for systems that carry out doping-fraud schemes that rob athletes, citizens and businesses,” he said.
“It also protects whistleblowers from retaliation and provides restitution for athletes defrauded by conspiracies to dope.
“It is a monumental day in the fight for clean sport worldwide and we look forward to seeing the Act soon become law and help change the game for clean athletes for the good.”
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The bill has divided the anti-doping world.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has expressed concern that the Rodchenkov Act could destabilize the global anti-doping effort while giving US professional and college athletes a free pass.
There were also worries that the bill will impede the capacity to use whistleblowers by exposing them to multiple jurisdictions and preventing ‘substantial assistance’ deals.
