December 21, 2018 – On Dec. 19, two American senators, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (UT), announced the introduction of legislation into the House of Representatives in the United States that establishes criminal penalties for individuals involved in doping fraud conspiracies affecting major international competitions.

“For too long, internationally agreed upon anti-doping rules have been broken with impunity. Athletes have been defrauded by coordinated, and in some cases state-sponsored, doping fraud schemes that call into question the integrity and fairness central to all competitions,” said Senator Hatch. “This bill is a long overdue step to deter and punish individuals and state actors who would attempt to defraud international competitions through doping.”

The bill, the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, is named after Russian whistleblower Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov who gave evidence that led to a massive state-sponsored doping scandal that took place during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

“To remain a ‘city on a hill,’ America must hold the crooked and corrupt accountable whenever we can. That means forcefully confronting Russia’s use of corruption as a tool of foreign policy,” said Sen. Whitehouse. “In the face of certain retaliation, Dr. Rodchenkov revealed sweeping Russian state-sponsored doping. This bill would create consequences for Russia’s cheating, and send a strong signal that Russia and other sponsors of state-directed fraud and corruption no longer enjoy impunity.”

Rodchenkov has issued his own support of the legislation.

“I am humbled and honored to see the introduction of the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act in the Senate today,” he said. “I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Sen. Whitehouse, Sen. Hatch, and the Helsinki Commission for their courage and leadership in the protection of whistleblowers who come forward to speak the truth. I believe that this legislation holds the promise to finally protect athletes and international competitions from and corruption and interference that we see continues today. This broad support from Congress is vital to our fight for justice and fairness in the international arena of sport.”

According to Whitehouse, the legislation is designed to do four things:

– Establish criminal penalties for participating in a scheme in commerce to influence a major international sport competition through prohibited substances or methods.
– Provide restitution to victims of such conspiracies.
– Protect whistleblowers from retaliation.
– Establish coordination and sharing of information with the United States Anti-Doping Agency.

The act came out of meetings regarding the impact of doping on international sport held at the U.S. Helsinki Commission earlier this year, of which Sen. Whitehouse is commissioner. In July, the Helsinki Commission held a hearing that explored the interplay between doping fraud and globalized corruption and U.S. policy responses, including the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act.

The International Olympic Committee has been critical of the Act specifically for its bringing international athletes under the jurisdiction of the American criminal code.

“It is a matter of concern that the intention of the proposed legislation is to put athletes from all 206 National Olympic Committee from around the world who take part in international competition under the criminal code of U.S. law,” an IOC spokesperson reportedly said to website insidethegames.biz.

“With regards to the fight against corruption in sport, we would kindly invite the United States Government to join ‘The International Partnership against Corruption in Sport’ (IPACS), where the IOC together with governments, including Japan, Germany, Great Britain, France and Australia, along with international organisations like the United Nations, OECD and the Council of Europe, have joined forces.”

Inside The Games report here.

Anti-doping World report here.