Washington, D.C. – Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), a member of the House Rules Committee and Republican Leader of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, released the following statement after the Senate sent his bill, the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act (RADA), to President Trump’s desk last night.

“The Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act will ensure that athletes’ rights are respected, whistleblowers are protected, and criminals are brought to justice,” said Burgess. “Professional athletes spend countless hours preparing to compete. They need to know that their effort is not tainted by someone working to rig the system as seen during the 2018 Winter Olympics. This bill will restore the integrity of international sport competition and uphold the rule of law around the world. I appreciate the Senate’s action to pass it and urge the President to quickly sign it into law."

Background: 
RADA, named after the Russian whistleblower Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, will criminalize knowingly facilitating a doping scheme in a major international sport competition where U.S. athletes are competing and the competition organizer receives sponsorship or financial support from a U.S. entity. The bill also subjects violators to criminal penalties and mandatory restitution.