IOC Makes Doping Results Management And Sanctioning Independent

A new CAS Anti-doping Division will handle cases already starting with the Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016

The Executive Board (EB) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today agreed to delegate the decisions on alleged anti-doping rule violations during the Olympic Games to an independent body. A new Anti-doping Division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will handle cases from the Olympic Games 2016 onwards.

The CAS Anti-Doping Division will replace the IOC Disciplinary Commission to hear and decide on doping cases at the Olympic Games, as well as the subsequent re-analysis of samples taken at the Games.

The move comes as part of the Olympic Agenda 2020 reforms, and follows the Resolution of the Fourth Olympic Summit to make anti-doping testing independent of sports organisations.

IOC President Thomas Bach

“This is a major step forward to make doping testing independent, following the decision of the IOC Executive Board three months ago after the proposal of the Olympic Summit. It represents support for the IOC’s zero tolerance policy in the fight against doping and in the protection of the clean athletes,” IOC President Thomas Bach said.

The delegation of the results management and hearings to the CAS is another step taken by the IOC in recent weeks to make the anti-doping system more independent. Earlier it was proposed that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) lead intelligence-gathering funded by the IOC to make testing in the lead-up to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro as efficient and independent as possible. Out-of-competition testing during the Olympic Games will also be guided by this intelligence group from WADA, to make it more targeted and more effective.

The delegation by the IOC Executive Board to the CAS Anti-doping Division is pursuant to Rule 59.2.4 of the Olympic Charter. The IOC Anti-Doping Rules applicable to the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, Rio de Janeiro, 2016 will be amended accordingly to reflect this change.

The IOC is working to ensure a more efficient, transparent and credible anti-doping system by taking all aspects of results management and hearings out of the hands of sports organisations.

UN General Assembly approves Olympic Truce for Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016

IOC President announces participation of top-level refugee athletes in the Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016.

The 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly today approved a resolution for observance of the Olympic Truce for the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janeiro next summer. The resolution was supported by 180 out of 193 UN member states.

Speaking to the General Assembly in New York on Monday, International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach reiterated the important role that sport and the Olympic ideals can play at the service of society by promoting peace, fair play, tolerance and understanding.

“The Olympic Games are the time when the values of tolerance, solidarity and peace are brought to life. This is the time when the international community comes together for peaceful competition,” said the IOC President. “In the Olympic Village, we see tolerance and solidarity in their purest form. Athletes from all 206 National Olympic Committees live together in harmony and without any kind of discrimination. This is the true spirit of ‘Olympic Unity in Diversity’ – athletes from every corner of the world, living together under one roof,” he added.

The resolution calls for the Olympic Truce to be respected from seven days before the start of the Olympic Games until seven days after the Paralympic Games.

During his address to the General Assembly, the President also appealed for help from the member nations to identify top-level athletes who are currently refugees.

“At present, none of these athletes would have the chance to participate in the Olympic Games even if qualified from the sports point of view because, with their refugee status, they are left without a home country and National Olympic Committee to represent,” he told them. Announcing that the International Olympic Committee will invite the highest qualified refugee athletes to participate in the Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016, President Bach added, “having no national team to belong to, having no flag to march behind, having no national anthem to be played, these refugee athletes will be welcomed to the Olympic Games with the Olympic flag and with the Olympic anthem. They will have a home together with all the other 11,000 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees in the Olympic Village. This will be a symbol of hope for all the refugees in our world, and will make the world better aware of the magnitude of this crisis.”

The resolution, entitled “Building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal,” was formally submitted to the General Assembly on behalf of the Olympic Movement and Brazil by the Organising Committee of the Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016, led by its President, Carlos Nuzman.

IOC President Thomas Bach on an Official visit to New York to participate in the 70th Session of the United Nations.
President Bach addresses the UN General Assembly.
Photograph by Ian Jones/IOC

President Bach underlined that the Organising Committee is working to deliver an inclusive Olympic Games.

“The values of tolerance, solidarity and peace are a central part of Rio de Janeiro’s legacy for the Brazilians. These will be inclusive Games – and a unique opportunity to showcase sport as a key tool for peace, social inclusion and tolerance, and in the fight against racial, ethnic or gender discrimination. Through the Olympic Games, the Brazilian people will remind the world of their unique combination of passion and efficiency.” President Bach said.

The Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro will take place from 5 to 21 August 2016 and be followed by the Paralympic Games from 7 to 18 September 2016.