Federation for International FootGolf’s Post

As pre-Olympics momentum builds, World Athletics’ recent decision to introduce more stringent Out-of-Competition testing for athletes from Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Portugal demonstrates the willingness of global sporting administrators to ensure that the reputation of Paris 2024 remains untainted by doping scandal. Our team take a closer look into the topic of anti-doping regulations, including looking at how anti-doping allegations are decided and why the regime prioritises prevention. Find out more: https://ow.ly/8Q3Q50Rg9n9

The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a relatively rare evening hearing yesterday on Examining Anti-Doping Measures in Advance of the 2024 Olympics. Former USA National Swim Team Members and Olympic Gold Medalists Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt testified as well as Travis Tygart, CEO of the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). The hearing was triggered by recent revelations of anti-doping rule violations by almost two dozen members of the Chinese national swim team in advance of the Tokyo Olympics and the decision by the Chinese national anti-doping organization and the World Anti-Doping Agency to permit thirteen of those Chinese swimmers to compete in the Tokyo Olympics without sanctions. Eleven (I believe) of those swimmers are scheduled to swim in the Paris Olympics. USADA has taken the lead in alleging that WADA engaged in preferential treatment of the Chinese swimmers and not enforcing the World Anti-Doping Code. Although WADA has tasked an investigation into the circumstances surrounding decisions that were made in connection with the Tokyo and now the Paris Olympics, USADA believes that a truly independent investigation needs to be conducted. The witnesses last night testified that the US swimmers subject to WADA's anti-doping regime have lost confidence in WADA's ability to independently administer WADA's anti-doping regime. This is particularly troubling when the start of the Paris Olympics is only a month away. Doping is cheating, and not only the clean athletes and their teams are harmed by athletes from other teams who engage in doping, confidence in fair and clean sport competition is undermined and fans as well at the athletes and teams are harmed in the process. The Olympics are big business and an important source of national pride for teams and countries around the world. International sports competition is big business and an important source of national pride for teams and countries around the world. If the duly appointed watchdog, WADA, that is supposed to protect clean sport and fair play loses the confidence of the athletes it oversees, what does that say about the integrity of the Olympics and international sports competition? Who is protecting the clean athletes, their teams and their countries and their fans?

Major sports events can be a battleground for brand exposure, with IP considerations shaping the strategies of both official sponsors and non-affiliates, and the Summer and Winter Games are no different. The 2024 Olympics represent not only one of the largest global events, but also a premier global marketing platform that enables brand owners to reach billions in over 200 countries. No wonder that IP plays such a significant role in protecting the tournament's brand and associated assets. International Olympic Committee – IOC Olympics Paris 2024 #sports #IP #trademarks #ashmarIP Paris 2024 - Comité d'organisation des Jeux Olympiques et Paralympiques de 2024

23 Chinese Swimmers Who Tested Positive For Drugs Were Allowed To Compete at the Tokyo Olympic Games - Why? One of the many issues pressurizing the notion of fair play in global sport is the increased influence of politics among the very organizations who are meant to be the gatekeepers of sport, they are meant to be neutral, non political, and unbiased across the world of sport. So how did these Chinese swimmers end up competing at the Tokyo Games? Well it's easy. All that China had to do was to say that we will investigate this case internally, and they will report their findings. They did just that, and in doing so, they presented a case that the athletes supplements were contaminated, and as a result, the swimmers were cleared and allowed to compete in Tokyo. Step in the global agency for anti-doping WADA......Oh, but they didn't. That's right the very organization who is meant to be the gatekeeper for global sport so that the billions of people who sit down in front of their televisions to watch events like the Olympic Games can rest assure that the drug cheats are being caught, and that every nation whose athletes are cheating is being held accountable by WADA. There is at present a civil war erupting within the anti doping community against this particular case. There are just 70 days to go until the commencement of the Olympic Games in Paris. Swimmers and now many national federations are demanding an independent inquiry is established to look at and to deal with this case of the Chinese swimmers. I have set about to research my latest book titled TRACK AND PILLS with an open mind. An open mind that is rapidly finding things out that are truly unbelievable, even for me, a sports guy. As I continue this journey I welcome any athlete, or coach, past or present who wants to share their story around the whole drugs in sport issue I would love to hear from you, on or off the record. We simply need to demand more has to be done to protect fair play in global sport so that the youngsters of today can grow up without having to believe that they need to cross to the dark side to be successful in their chosen sport. Everything is on the line, and the clock is ticking. #saynotodrugsinsport

Chinese swimmers have been overtaking U.S. swimmers in the last few years, breaking world records after world records. With Paris Olympics coming up, how do you prevent Chinese swimmers from winning medals? You can't break the legs of every swimmer in Team China, can you? Easy peasy! You don't have to break their legs. Ban them from participating altogether! But, how? You need to have a reason to ban them from taking part, right? Easy peasy again! Dig up an old case from 2021. Back in 2021 Tokyo Olympics, a whistle blower informed the organizer that Chinese swimmers were taking illegal performance-enhancing drugs (doping). That prompted the World Anti Doping Agency to conduct a doping test. True enough, 23 Chinese swimmers, most of whom are world record holders, were tested positive! WADA and The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations launched an investigation. But, after thorough investigations, WADA and ASOIF found out that Chinese swimmers' food have been spiked with drugs in the kitchen! Who did it, no one knew. So, WADA and ASOIF cleared the Chinese swimmers, and allowed them to take part in Tokyo Olympics. It is very strange, right? The entire incident was meant to prevent Chinese swimmers from taking part in Tokyo Olympics. Whoever spiked their food, wanted the swimmers to be disqualified. And who's this whistle blower, BTW??? You would think that since WADA's and ASOIF's investigations showed that the Chinese were innocent, that would be the end of the matter, right? No! The US Anti Doping Agency is now reopening the case, hoping to get the Chinese team disqualified from Paris Olympics. Not only that, USADA is also launching investigations on WADA and ASOIF officials, alleging that they have mishandled the investigations and possibly taking bribes from the Chinese government. Amazing story line, right? The incident happened at Tokyo Olympics. So, it was under the jurisdiction of World Anti Doping Agency and The Association of Summer Olympic International Federations. But now the U.S. says no, we don't recognize your investigations. Since you acquitted the Chinese swimmers, we must now investigate not only the Chinese swimmers, but also you guys for allegedly receiving bribes! So amazing!!! https://lnkd.in/gcyiGXSs

The news of the Queensland Government changing plans on stadiums for the Brisbane Olympics in 2032 is definitely a concern, along with allegations of considering pulling out altogether isn't a great start on hosting the biggest event in sports. Yes, hosting the Olympics is a very costly exercise and fears of facility neglect afterwards is a great risk but hosting a 'once in a lifetime' event and what it would do for Australian sport in the future may outweigh the negatives. I remember the Sydney Olympics in 2000, the atmosphere was electric and it is still talked about today on how great it was. Going ahead on building a temporary main stadium of 40,000 at QSAC instead of the GABBA and Suncorp feels like it was overpromised and maybe the Olympics might be too much for Brisbane. There is legacy when it comes to the main stadium, it is the showpiece for the event and a monument of memories. It's also a long term investment and the examples of the MCG and Stadium Australia (Accor Stadium) stand true, splitting the responsibilities of Suncorp as ceremonial and a dedicated temporary athletics stadium built then disappearing in my opinion leaves it feeling a bit empty and diminishes in turning either the GABBA or Suncorp (a better upgrade) into a real modern, global destination venue. It also harms the reputation of Australia being considered to host future events. There is pride when hosting big events in Australia such as the Melbourne and Sydney Olympics plus the recent overwhelming success of the FIFA Women's World Cup but with Victoria pulling out of the Commonwealth Games and the stumbling start of the 2032 Olympics, many sport organisations would be hesitant on bringing events to Australia and decide on other cities where finances aren't a major risk. I really hope that it all works out, are able to manage costs, plans steam ahead and by 2032 Brisbane, Australia, and the whole world can celebrate a successful event. It would be a real shame if the worst case scenario happens and the people of Brisbane don't experience the magic of the Olympics on what Sydney and Melbourne had. #olympics #olympics2032 #brisbane #australia #sport #sports #sportsbusiness #sportsbiz

Chinese Swimmers in Doping Controversy: A Closer Look at the Tokyo Fallout China has confirmed its selection of eleven swimmers implicated in a recent doping scandal to compete in the upcoming Paris Olympics. This decision has stirred significant debate and skepticism within the international sporting community, especially in light of the circumstances surrounding the athletes' alleged violations. The scandal dates back to the lead-up to the 2021 Tokyo Games when twenty-three Chinese swimmers reportedly tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ), a banned substance known for its potential performance-enhancing effects. TMZ, primarily used to treat angina, was found in the systems of these athletes during routine testing protocols, triggering immediate scrutiny and concerns over fair play. Despite the alarming test results, Chinese authorities vehemently argued that the positive findings were the result of inadvertent ingestion through contaminated food sources. This defense was eventually accepted by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), sparing the athletes from formal sanctions. This decision, however, sparked widespread skepticism and criticism, with many questioning the adequacy of the investigation and the credibility of the explanation provided. The acceptance of the food contamination argument by WADA marked a significant departure from standard anti-doping protocols, which typically hold athletes accountable for any banned substances found in their system regardless of the source. The decision has raised eyebrows regarding the consistency and rigor of anti-doping enforcement, particularly when powerful sporting nations are involved. Now, as China prepares to send these eleven swimmers to the Paris Olympics, the controversy has reignited discussions about the integrity of international sports and the effectiveness of anti-doping measures. Critics argue that the decision sets a troubling precedent, potentially undermining efforts to maintain a level playing field for all athletes. In response to the skepticism surrounding their selection, Chinese sports officials have reiterated their commitment to clean competition and emphasized that all athletes named in the squad have undergone rigorous testing to ensure compliance with anti-doping regulations. They maintain that the athletes are innocent of any deliberate wrongdoing and deserve the opportunity to compete on the global stage. The unfolding saga serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges faced by the anti-doping authorities in safeguarding the integrity of sport. As the Paris Olympics approach, the spotlight will undoubtedly remain on these athletes and the broader implications of their participation, reflecting larger debates on fairness, transparency, and accountability in international athletics. As stakeholders and fans alike await the commencement of the Games, the controversy surrounding the Chinese swimmers stands as a testament to the

Council of Europe is for #FairSport = #FairSocieties Today in Porto, at their 18th Conference, Council of Europe Sports Ministers adopted a resolution, underlining that in light of the societal benefits of sport, it has to be promoted as a common resource, fostering its social, health and educational role and preserving it for future generations. 🔗Text of the resolution: https://lnkd.in/d6hi6kam Ministers commit, and call for a fresh approach to #CollaborativeGoverning and #GoodGovernanceInSport. This notably implies for states and sport organisations to sustain a continuous dialogue with athletes, local clubs, concerned youth representatives and civil society, recognising them as instrumental partners in promoting values-based sport. The 19th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Sport will be hosted by the Principality of Monaco in 2026. 👉 Deepend your knowledge about the Council of Europe and sport here:

*The Anti-Doping System at Paris 2024 Olympics* At Elite Law SA, we are involved, among other activities, in assisting athletes, associations, clubs and other professionals (such as sports doctors, physiotherapists and other sports workers) involved in anti-doping matters. In this context, we find it interesting to share some information on the anti-doping programme put in place for the Paris 2024 Olympics. A short preamble: the anti-doping programme of the Olympic and Paralympic Games began in the 1960s. Both the International Olympic Committee – IOC and the International Paralympic Committee adopted rules in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code to combat doping. Since 2019, anti-doping management for the Olympic Games has been delegated to the International Testing Agency (ITA - https://ita.sport/), while the IPC oversees the programme for the Paralympic Games. For Paris 2024, ITA implemented an anti-doping programme as follows: ·        In the pre-Games phase (3 months before the Olympics), ITA supported by a group of experts monitored potential participants, ensuring that they were subject to an appropriate and targeted testing regime. ITA conducted over 32,600 tests, 75% of the athletes were tested three times or more, 90% at least once. The programme outperformed Tokyo 2020 and was monitored by WADA (https://lnkd.in/d9EkWtc2) ·        During the Games, ITA continued carrying out tests and collect samples on the basis of a multifactorial risk assessment to identify those at highest risk. All testing was targeted and unannounced. ·        The samples collected were analysed by the WADA-accredited anti-doping laboratory in Paris, and will be stored for up to 10 years for possible future re-analysis. Disputes concerning doping, or other issues related to the Games, were handled by the TAS/CAS Tribunal Arbitral du Sport / Court of Arbitration for Sport / Tribunal Arbitral del Deporte (CAS) through an ad hoc division. Disputes could be submitted to the CAS ad hoc division during the 10 days prior to the start of the Games and during the competition. As a result, athletes currently serving a provisional suspension or other sanctions as a result of an anti-doping rule violation in the framework of Paris 2024 Olympics are now listed on the ITA website: https://lnkd.in/da3NG8Ci For information on Elite Law's anti-doping services visit: https://lnkd.in/etS4GCM7

Doping and how to tackle it. Ahead of the TAS/CAS Tribunal Arbitral du Sport / Court of Arbitration for Sport / Tribunal Arbitral del Deporte Seminar of this upcoming weekend, where one of the topics shall be ‘Athlete Rights and Due Process, in particular in Doping-related proceedings’, we liked the idea to have a look at the anti-doping system and results at the recent 2024 Paris Olympics.