The United States Olympic Committee, USOC, is a national sports organization that was established in 1894. It was formed under the International Olympic Committee Charter. It regulates competitive sports in America for all other organizations that coordinate Olympic Games, Paralympics games, youth Olympics, as well as Pan American games. Due to its extensive administrative and coordinative roles, USOC has several policies that are binding on all subsidiary organizations. One such policy is its Anti-doping policy. This paper will be a review and analysis of the USOC’s anti-doping policy. The paper will aim at analyzing this policy and evaluate its origin, use and effectiveness.
The USOC implemented its anti- doping policies in compliance with the requirements of the international Olympic committee, in accordance with the Declaration of Lausanne. The Declaration of Lausanne was enacted to ban the use of drugs and other anabolic substances in competitive sport. It was to promote true and fair play. USOC implemented its anti-doping policy pursuant to the spirit of promoting true play. The policy came into effect on January 1, 2009. The policy lays down all the rules that guide anti doping practices. It also sets the method for establishing a violation of the anti-doping rules. The policy sets the manner in for suspending and sanctioning an athlete who is caught having contravened the rules forbidding anti-doping. It also establishes the mechanisms that should be used to test an athlete for doping[ CITATION Pau13 \l 1033 ]. The policy provides for no prior notice for testing for doping. It means that an athlete could be summoned any time for testing.
This policy is binding on all national governing bodies that are below the USOC. The policy is framed verbatim with the provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code. The Code was implemented by the World Anti-Doping Agency, a body established by the International Olympics Committee. The policy, therefore, affects these governing bodies of competitive sports as well as the athletes. The policy is so influential that is applied to all countries that are members of the USOC. As mentioned above, this encompasses all countries that participate in Paralympics and any Olympics games in the United States. The rules of the policy apply in all competitive sports, especially those of the Olympics[ CITATION Mik11 \l 1033 ]. The Sporting environment is affected by this policy as it is mostly performed just before competitions or championships. With random testing, athletes are forced to always be on their guard. Violation of the anti-doping policy has far-reaching consequences, not only dreaded by immediate parties, but also by bystanders.
The strategy has been effective in promoting good sportsmanship. The policy ensures that the athletes’ right to free and affair competition is met. The policy is also intended to harmonize and coordinate all sports under the USOC. Another reason that shows the success of this policy is that all national Sports governing bodies in America under the USOC have adopted this policy. The sections for any violations are immediate. This policy has successfully promoted good sportsmanship necessary for any competition. Moreover, the policy has helped young athletes abstain for substance abuse and ensured that competitions are won due to natural capabilities and not artificially induced abilities.
In conclusion, the management of doping in USOC is well established[ CITATION Pau13 \l 1033 ]. The process is transparent and well known. Athletes who are registered under the USOC are expected to comply with the rules that form the policy against the use of prohibitive substances. In addition, the athletes are given succinct education on doping.. The policy is also easy to understand, which makes it an efficient implementation.
- David, P. (2013). A Guide to the World Anti-Doping Code. New York: Cambridge University Press.Print.
- Mike McNamee, V. M. (2011). Doping and Anti-Doping Policy in Sport. Routeledge: New York.Print.
