{"id":1108,"date":"2020-12-05T15:38:22","date_gmt":"2020-12-05T15:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiofree.org\/?p=133100"},"modified":"2020-12-05T15:38:22","modified_gmt":"2020-12-05T15:38:22","slug":"u-s-bill-targeting-international-sports-doping-becomes-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2020\/12\/05\/u-s-bill-targeting-international-sports-doping-becomes-law\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Bill Targeting International Sports Doping Becomes Law"},"content":{"rendered":"
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U.S. President Donald Trump has signed into law a bill giving U.S. authorities the power to prosecute individuals responsible for doping at international sporting competitions involving American athletes, sponsors, or broadcasters.<\/p>\n

Trump signed the Rodchenkov Act, which earlier passed Congress, on December 4 despite international opposition, including from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).<\/p>\n

The law, named after whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov, who lifted the lid on state-sponsored doping in Russia, empowers U.S. prosecutors to seek fines of up to $1 million and jail terms of up to 10 years, as well as restitution to victims.<\/p>\n

“The Rodchenkov anti-doping act is now law and part of the United States criminal code, giving the Department of Justice a powerful and unique set of tools to eradicate doping fraud and related criminal activities from international competitions.” said Jim Walden, Rodchenkov’s lawyer, in a statement.<\/p>\n

WADA, which has authority to sanction athletes for doping, has expressed concern over the legislation, warning it could lead to a patchwork of laws that weaken the principle of having one set of rules for all athletes around the world.<\/p>\n

“No nation has ever before asserted criminal jurisdiction over doping offences that occurred outside its national borders — and for good reason,” the agency said last month after the bill passed the Senate.<\/p>\n

The International Olympic Committee has also questioned why American professional and college athletes are exempt.<\/p>\n

The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) has said there was no need to include U.S. professional and college sports in the legislation as existing law allows their prosecution.<\/p>\n

Responding to the bill, Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin told Match Strana TV on December 5 that it creates \u201ca situation where one country claims the right to judge.”<\/p>\n

“We are negative about it and will have to think about how to minimize risks for Russian athletes,” the sports minister added.<\/p>\n

Rodchenkov, the former head of Russia’s national anti-doping laboratory in Moscow, exposed a state-backed doping conspiracy designed to cover up Russia’s cheating at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and other events.<\/p>\n

Rodchenkov fled to the United States in 2016 and provided evidence of the doping conspiracy to WADA.<\/p>\n

An independent WADA report confirmed the allegations, leading to partial bans for Russia at the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.<\/p>\n

Russian prosecutors have accused Rodchenkov of being largely responsible for the scandal.<\/p>\n

With reporting by AFP, AP, Reuters, and TASS<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n\n

This post was originally published on Radio Free<\/a>. <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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