Washington, D.C. — Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), released the following statement on the House Committee on the Judiciary voting to pass the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act out of committee:
“The passage of this bill out of committee is a step forward to further promote human rights, democracy, and the rule of law around the world,” Burgess said. “There should not be an opportunity for states to engage in misconduct during international athletic competitions. Athletes who compete honestly must not have victory seized from them by an opponent who has used performance-enhancing drugs as part of a doping scheme.” This bill restores integrity of international sport competition and ensures American athletes the due process they deserve.
“As a member of the Helsinki Commission in the 115th Congress, we heard from Russian whistleblowers who were forced to dope and from American athletes who were defrauded due to a state-sponsored doping scheme. No athlete should have to suffer the consequences of doping. This bill helps ensure that athletes rights are respected, whistleblowers are protected, and criminals are brought to justice.”
In 2016, Dr. Rodchenkov exposed the Russian state-sponsored doping scandal that took place during the 2014 Sochi Olympics. By deceiving international anti-doping authorities and swapping athletes’ samples, Russian officials cheated U.S. athletes out of Olympic glory and U.S. corporations out of honest sponsorships. These corrupt officials used bribes and illicit payments, sometimes through U.S. financial institutions, to commit this fraud. Unfortunately, the masterminds behind the Russian doping operation escaped punishment for their actions because there was no U.S. legal mechanism to bring them to justice.
The Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act will:
Establish criminal penalties for knowingly manufacturing, distributing, and using PEDs.This section applies to all major international competitions in which U.S. athletes or U.S. entities participate, so that international fraud against Americans will not go unpunished.Penalties will include fines of up to $1,000,000, or imprisonment of up to ten years, depending on the offense.
Establish a private civil right of action for doping fraud, giving clean athletes and defrauded corporations and entities legal recourse to pursue civil action against deceptive competition that has deprived them of medals or financial awards.
Protect whistleblowers from retaliation, to ensure that intimidation tactics will not be tolerated against those who do the right thing and expose fraudulent schemes. Any person who has experienced retaliation because of exposing Doping Fraud may sue the retaliating party in United States district court.
Empower the U.S. Attorney General to develop regulations by which the U.S. Department of Justice will help private litigants to obtain foreign evidence, in compliance with the Convention on the Taking of Evidence Abroad in Civil or Commercial Matters.
