tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58358758632576620762024-03-08T08:40:20.796-08:00Howard Jacobs Athletes Lawyer BlogHoward Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-79780544353806088152017-08-07T16:08:00.000-07:002017-08-07T16:16:33.887-07:00The Latest Anti-Doping Hysteria, And The Problem Of Reducing Complicated Issues To 140 Characters<div class="MsoNormal">
When I started this blog in 2010, I had the intention of
including lots of original content. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
did a pretty good job at first, but inevitably work took precedence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I had some extra time this weekend, giving
myself a bit of a break after 3 anti-doping arbitrations in a 6-day
stretch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So after an enjoyable morning
bike ride, I settled in to watch the IAAF World Championships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having recorded the coverage so I could
fast-forward through much of the commentary and pre-race hype, I studiously
avoided social media so that I could watch without knowing the results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I watched two remarkable finals:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Almaz Ayana absolutely crushing the field in
the second half of the women’s 10,000 meters, and Justin Gatlin's shocking win
over Usain Bolt in Bolt’s self-proclaimed last 100-meter race ever.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then I decided to check the twitter response, which was as
predictable as it was illogical:<o:p></o:p></div>
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“Until Ethiopia follow proper
doping procedures I for one do not accept these athletes performances”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“All those expressing dismay that a
doper won must be in denial about the fact that evidence shows >40% of elite
athletes dope”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“Gold medal to any advertising
executive with convincing pitch to attract fans to watch athletics where Almaz
Ayana & Justin Gatlin are stars”<o:p></o:p></div>
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Here is the problem with social media rhetoric:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>sound bites and tweets are compelling in
their simplicity, but anti-doping is complicated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you reduce anti-doping to 140
characters, illogic is inevitable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
could write or talk for days about the complexity of the issues in anti-doping,
but let me illustrate the illogic of the latest hysteria with a few questions raised
by these simple tweets, questions that are easy to ask and much more difficult
to answer:<o:p></o:p></div>
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If performances can only be trusted
by athletes who live or train in countries that have strong and independent
National Anti-Doping Organizations, then why is there such skepticism over
Justin Gatlin’s performance, when he has not tested positive or had any known anti-doping
issues since returning from his 4-year ban in 2010, while living and training
in a country that has one of the strongest and most independent National Anti-Doping
Organizations?<o:p></o:p></div>
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If entire nations such as Ethiopia are
to be singled out as “not following proper doping procedures,” then how can you
justify the fact that Russia remains the only country that is precluded from
competing at these World Championships?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If more than 40% of elite athletes
dope, which presumably would mean that 40% or more of the 2017 IAAF World
Championships women’s’ 10,000 meters were doping, then how did Almaz Ayana
completely dominate the field and win by 46 seconds?<o:p></o:p></div>
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If more than 40% of elite athletes
dope, but less than 2% of all anti-doping tests result in either an Adverse
Analytical Finding or an Atypical Finding [see <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/2015_wada_anti-doping_testing_figures_report_0.pdf">https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/resources/files/2015_wada_anti-doping_testing_figures_report_0.pdf</a>],
does this mean that more than 38% of elite athletes are doping and not being
caught?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if this is the case, how can
you continue to justify the exclusion of all Russian athletes from these World
Championships while at the same time believing that a significant number of competing
athletes from all countries are doping and not being caught?<o:p></o:p></div>
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It is frequently claimed by the anti-doping authorities, as
one of the justifications for their pursuits, that if people don’t believe that
what they are watching is real (i.e., if they believe most competitors are
doping), they will stop watching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is a consistent narrative, that anti-doping threatens the very existence of
sport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without in any way meaning to
minimize the anti-doping fight, history shows that there is little, if any,
correlation between people’s belief as to the prevalence of doping and their
decision as to whether or not to watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, for the most dedicated fans, it could be argued that the debate
about who is or is not doping is simply part of the conversation, in the same
manner as the debates over who will win a particular game, who is the best,
etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sport fuels a 24-hour media
industry, which depends on controversies to generate interest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The doping debate has simply become one of
those controversies which makes fans more engaged, not less.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Anti-doping is complicated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Certainly, athletes who “cheat” are not always caught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But at the same time, athletes who test
positive are not always “cheaters,” let alone villains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Attempts to encapsulate anti-doping in a
sound bite or a tweet – to say that you do not accept extraordinary
performances from athletes from certain countries or to use the pejorative
phrase “drugs cheat” indiscriminately or to simply declare that the majority of
athletes are “doping” - may help build hysteria, it may even help to build
interest, but it will inevitably be over simplistic and prone to illogic.<o:p></o:p></div>
Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-50292622707282311272015-06-02T11:38:00.000-07:002015-06-02T11:38:40.758-07:00<a href="https://app.box.com/s/02ki0mvbpiof3gcuxo090aucaabcub0v" target="_blank">"The PGA Tour Anti-Doping Program: The Concerns," World Sports Law Report, April 2015</a><br />
<br />
by Howard L. JacobsHoward Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-74230257640858662402014-04-08T16:18:00.000-07:002014-04-08T16:18:38.091-07:00Swimmer Omar Pinzon Completely Exonerated By Court Of Arbitration For Sport, Responds To CAS Decision<div class="MsoNormal">
Los Angeles (April 8, 2014) – Omar Pinzon’s long fight to
clear his name is finally over, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (“CAS”)
issuing its final decision exonerating him earlier this week.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Despite the fact that he has never used cocaine, Mr. Pinzon
tested positive for cocaine while competing at the Colombian National Games in
Cali, Colombia, on November 10, 2012.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Confident that he was innocent, Mr. Pinzon submitted to a polygraph
examination, and was found to be truthful that he had not knowingly used
cocaine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he was suspended by the
national swimming federation for Colombia (FECNA) for 2 years, Omar Pinzon
appealed to the CAS.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Following a hearing in New York in February 2014, CAS has
now issued its final decision, fully exonerating Omar Pinzon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In its decision, the CAS tribunal noted the
following:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
-the CAS tribunal did not believe
that Omar Pinzon had ever used cocaine;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
-the testing laboratory in Colombia
had not used the standard test for cocaine, and did not establish that it even
followed its own required testing protocols;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
-there is no known scientific study
that would support the test results reported by the testing laboratory in
Colombia;<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
-the results reported by the
testing laboratory in Colombia are virtually impossible in a human urine sample
after the ingestion of cocaine, meaning that the test results are inconsistent
with biology; and<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
-the lab result can only be
explained by lab error, manipulation of the sample or adulteration of the
sample.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In addition, the CAS tribunal ordered that FECNA must pay
Omar Pinzon in excess of US $50,000 for the costs of the arbitration and his
legal fees.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In responding to the CAS decision, Omar Pinzon stated as
follows:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“I am extremely happy with the CAS decision, because it
proves what I already knew, which is that I was completely innocent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The past year has been extremely difficult
for me and my family, and I look forward to returning to competition later this
month. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Despite this ordeal, I look forward to again representing my
country in the near future.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For more information please contact Howard Jacobs:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Howard L. Jacobs
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Law Offices of Howard L. Jacobs <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2815 Townsgate Road, Suite 200 <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Westlake Village, California 91361 <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tel. 805.418.9892
Cell. 818.422.0508 <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="DE">Fax. 805.418.9899 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="mailto:howard.jacobs@athleteslawyer.com"><span lang="DE">howard.jacobs@athleteslawyer.com</span></a><span lang="DE"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.athleteslawyer.com/"><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">http://www.athleteslawyer.com</span></a><span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-25136019223513569532013-12-20T14:29:00.000-08:002013-12-20T14:29:18.444-08:00Alix Klineman Receives Reduced Suspension for Inadvertent Use of Banned Supplement, Responds To AAA Decision<div class="MsoNormal">
Los Angeles (December 20, 2013) – The American Arbitration
Association recently issued its decision suspending volleyball player Alix
Klinemen from competition from May 22, 2013 through June 9, 2014 for her
inadvertent use of a banned supplement, thereby allowing her to return to
competition early next summer. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In its decision, the AAA Panel summarized the reasons for
its decision as follows:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“USADA
agreed with [Alix Klineman’s] contention that she is not a drug cheat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[Alix Klineman] is an exceptional, forthright
person who unfortunately finds herself caught up in the persistent world-wide
efforts to eradicate performance enhancing drugs in sport through the
imposition of stringent minimum penalties even where clear and convincing proof
exists that an athlete made a small error with no intent to gain a competitive
advantage.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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In responding to the AAA decision, Alix Klineman stated as
follows:<o:p></o:p></div>
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“This has been a devastating
experience for me. It is an understatement to say it is heartbreaking for me to
be punished for something I never intended to do. Having accidentally taken a
banned substance means that I am placed in the same category as those who meant
to cheat to get an unfair advantage. This, of course, was never my intention
nor did I ever know that I was taking a banned substance.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nevertheless, I am pleased that the
Arbitration Panel recognizes that I never attempted to gain any competitive
advantage nor did I obtain any competitive advantage through my mistake.
Further, the panel has stated in their report that they believe that I took
reasonable precautions to avoid taking any prohibited substances.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I look forward to returning to
competition as soon as possible, and working toward my ultimate goal of
representing my country at the 2016 Olympic Games.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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For more information please contact Howard Jacobs:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Howard L. Jacobs<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Law Offices of Howard L. Jacobs<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2815 Townsgate Road, Suite 200<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Westlake Village, California 91361<span style="mso-tab-count: 2;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Tel. 805.418.9892<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cell. 818.422.0508<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span lang="DE" style="mso-ansi-language: DE;">Fax. 805.418.9899<span style="mso-tab-count: 4;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-78617950871879325802013-09-02T15:24:00.001-07:002013-09-02T15:27:52.326-07:00Howard Jacobs on the 3rd draft of the WADA Code Review (Law in Sport, August 2013)<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20width=%22100%%22%20height=%22166%22%20scrolling=%22no%22%20frameborder=%22no%22%20src=%22https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F107898249%22%3E%3C/iframe%3E"><iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F107898249" width="100%"></iframe></a><br />Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-47428782699264200622013-06-19T15:01:00.002-07:002013-06-19T15:05:07.281-07:00The Athletes Lawyer - Howard Jacobs on anti-doping in sport<a href="http://www.lawinsport.com/videos/item/the-athletes-lawyer-howard-jacobs-on-anti-doping-in-sport"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HZFIMUFdcfA" width="640"></iframe></a>Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-49585748944600648702012-08-08T16:03:00.000-07:002012-08-08T16:03:24.849-07:00Bloomberg News, August 8, 2012<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fO_eY7RonrE" width="560"></iframe>Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-16804890872067967582012-05-02T10:05:00.000-07:002012-05-02T10:09:10.054-07:00CAS Hands Down Expected Decision in British Olympic Case, WADA Calls For Sensibility and Continued HarmonizationThe Court of Arbitration of Sport decision striking down the British Olympic Association's (BOA) lifetime ban on Olympic participation for athletes who have committed doping offenses was fairly predictable, as the result was foreshadowed (and some would say pre-ordained) by last summer's decision in the U.S. Olympic Committee's challenge to the IOC's "Osaka Rule" [see blog posts below). In fact, following the decision, the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) Director General David Howman, had this to say:<br />
<br />
"We gave the BOA a chance to review their opinion after the IOC case. The BOA wasted a lot of time and money and got the inevitable result." [http://sports.yahoo.com/news/british-olympic-doping-appeal-waste-time-145827457--spt.html]<br />
<br />
The BOA has, rather than accepting the decision as one required by law, upped the ante on rhetoric, calling the decision a "hollow victory" for WADA, and calling for much lengthier sanctions. It would be tempting to fall for this rhetoric, if one believed that those suspended for doping were all "intentional cheaters." Of course, that is not the case. It is comforting to see that the anti-doping agencies recognize that there is really no need to overhaul the rules with lengthier sanctions.<br />
<br />
In all of the clamor from the BOA for lengthier sanctions for intentional cheaters, they ignore or are simply unaware that those rules already exist. The WADA Code already provides for a sanction of up to four years for a first offense in the case of "aggravated circumstances."<br />
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In addition, the dramatic calls for a lifetime ban for a first offense have been met by WADA with what can only be described as a "reality wake-up call":<br />
<br />
"As we go forward we've got to maintain a gentle touch with reality and reality is whatever rules are put in place must be able to sustain a challenge in international law and the appropriate courts, including courts of human rights," [David Howman] explained. "For a first offence, (a four-year ban) [is] totally impossible.<br />
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"When you look at lifetime bans they are already in the Code for second, or maybe third offences but for a first offense I would say there would not be one human right lawyer or sport lawyer in the world who would ever suggest that." [http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/05/01/uk-olympics-doping-wada-idUKBRE8400QL20120501].<br />
<br />Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-11303226038860528892012-03-07T10:50:00.002-08:002012-03-07T10:54:02.969-08:00"Dwain Chambers and David Millar will be free to compete for Great Britain at the London Olympics, according to a leading sports lawyer"Here is an article and part of an interview that I did with the BBC in advance of the March 12 CAS hearing on the validity of the British Olympic Association's "lifetime Olympic ban" for British athletes who have committed doping offenses:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/17280765">http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/17280765</a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-15551886810576735172012-02-22T10:51:00.000-08:002012-02-22T10:57:03.082-08:00Going for the Gold: Drug Testing, Legal Challenges of Olympic Sponsorship Among Issues Discussed at Michigan Law School Event<a href="http://www.law.umich.edu/newsandinfo/releases/Pages/goingforthegold.aspx">http://www.law.umich.edu/newsandinfo/releases/Pages/goingforthegold.aspx</a>Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-53900327889667151262011-12-10T08:47:00.000-08:002011-12-10T08:47:51.584-08:00gulfnews : Victory Team blasts report on doping allegations<a href="http://gulfnews.com/sport/other-sports/victory-team-blasts-report-on-doping-allegations-1.948449#.TuONIqvy88c.blogger">gulfnews : Victory Team blasts report on doping allegations</a>Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-12933866229594012052011-10-06T05:11:00.000-07:002011-10-06T05:13:06.342-07:00COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT RULES IOC’S “6-MONTH RULE” INVALID AND UNENFORCEABLEToday the Court of Arbitration for Sport (“CAS”) announced that it has found that the IOC rule that banned athletes who were suspended for more than 6 months from competing in the next Olympic Games after their suspension ended was invalid and unenforceable. The full decision can be found at http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/5314/5048/0/Final20award202422.pdf.<br /><br />The decision of CAS is a good decision on a number of different fronts. It definitively rejects the notion that an athlete can receive an additional sanction under the false pretense of an “eligibility rule.” It settles once and for all an issue that has been raised in virtually every doping case in which I have been involved since the rule was first enacted in July 2008. It provides certainty to all athletes. It reinforces the World Anti-Doping Agency as the leader of the anti-doping movement in the Olympic movement. It reinforces CAS as the “Supreme Court of Sport,” and further solidifies the independence of CAS.<br /><br />It was a pleasure for me to present this case to CAS on behalf of the USOC with my Swiss colleague Antonio Rigozzi, and with the USOC’s General Counsel Rana Dershowitz, but there are many who deserve credit. The USOC and IOC certainly should be credited with recognizing that this issue needed to be resolved now, and agreeing to submit this case to CAS a full year before the 2012 Olympic Games. The AAA arbitration panels in the cases of LaShawn Merritt and Jessica Hardy should be credited with addressing this Rule when they could have easily sidestepped it. USADA and the many other national anti-doping organizations that submitted briefs in support of the USOC’s position should be credited for standing up and taking a firm and unwavering position that this rule was actually hindering their ability to do their jobs. Significantly, Jessica Hardy and LaShawn Merritt should be credited for handling themselves with dignity, and for reminding us that sport is about the incredible athletes who inspire us.Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-48239074966016932562011-09-09T16:53:00.000-07:002011-09-09T16:55:17.386-07:00The Trials Of Diana Taurasi, Sports Illustrated<a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1190262/index.htm">http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1190262/index.htm</a>Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-29116746396048334842011-08-01T15:44:00.000-07:002011-08-01T16:06:03.820-07:00FINA Executive Director: If You Test Positive, Hire A Good LawyerIn criticizing the large range of sanctions for certain types of positive tests [see http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/international-sport/160552-fina-chief-marculescu-criticises-doping-rules.html], FINA's Executive Director (unintentionally) provides advice that is not always followed by athletes and their agents - hire a good lawyer:<br /><br />“You are in a civil court, you have a good lawyer, you have a good argument, that influences the panel. The range is too huge. I think it’s too much ... Today the new [WADA] code is like going to the civil court: you have a good lawyer and you are out. You have a bad lawyer, you are in.”<br /><br />I disagree with the sentiment expressed here regarding the wide sanction ranges in certain cases under the World Anti-Doping Code: they should properly be viewed as providing arbitrators with the latitude to distinguish between cases of intentional doping and cases of inadvertence (as was the case for swimmer Cesar Cielo, among others), which is a good thing. Of course, this wide discretion means that the athlete's lawyer has to be even more persuasive and convincing, in cases of inadvertence. <br /><br />Of course, I do agree with the unintended message that is conveyed in the linked article quoted above: if you test positive, and your career is on the line, then having the best athlete's lawyer on your side seems like an easy decision to make.Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-10149779708722351562011-07-23T14:59:00.000-07:002011-07-26T14:04:29.142-07:00A Big Win For Cesar Cielo<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/swimming/news/story?id=6789577"></a><br /><br />Changes to the World Anti-Doping Code over the last several years have been advertised as trying to distinguish between intentional dopers and inadvertent positive tests. Common sense supports the notion that if an athlete can prove that a positive test was inadvertent, with no intent to enhance performance, and where there was no performance enhancement, then there should be no sanction. Now, at least in this case, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has agreed - see http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/swimming/news/story?id=6789577. <br /><br />Bravo.Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-64694546331041535242011-06-09T18:19:00.000-07:002011-06-09T18:21:49.462-07:00ESPN Outside the Lines Story on Diana Taurasi, June 6, 2011<object width="384" height="216" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" id="ESPN_VIDEO" data="http://espn.go.com/videohub/player/embed.swf" allowScriptAccess="always" allowNetworking="all"><param name="movie" value="http://espn.go.com/videohub/player/embed.swf" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="wmode" value="opaque"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="allowNetworking" value="all"/><param name="flashVars" value="id=6632692"/></object>Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-12880707338669898582011-04-28T18:15:00.000-07:002011-04-28T18:28:15.740-07:00Some Recent Developments in the Olympic World - the "Osaka Rule"Two recent developments regarding the same controversial rule that would sanction any athlete who is suspended for more than 6 months for a doping offense with a ban from the next Olympics after their suspension ends: (1) the International Olympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic Committee have agreed to have the Court of Arbitration for Sport decide the validity or invalidity of the rule; and (2) the International Olympic Committee has determined that the rule does not apply to Jessica Hardy, therefore clearing her way to the 2012 Olympic Games. Both developments are recent, and here is a sampling of some of the commentary from three reporters who have closely followed the issue - Phil Hersh, Bonnie Ford, and Alan Abrahamson<br /><br />http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/sports_globetrotting/2011/04/ioc-usoc-make-nice-to-seek-ruling-on-merritt-doping-case.html<br /><br />http://espn.go.com/blog/olympics/post/_/id/728/jessica-hardy-ruling-is-the-right-one<br /><br />http://3wiresports.com/2011/04/28/a-win-for-jessica-hardy-and-common-sense/Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-88602558741554263302011-04-14T20:28:00.000-07:002011-04-14T20:52:00.772-07:00Barry Bonds Convicted For Talking About FishingIn a bizarre verdict that seems unlikely to survive the certain legal challenges to come, the jury in the Bonds case did not convict on any counts of perjury, but convicted based on a finding of "obstruction of justice." So the jury did not find that Bonds lied to the grand jury, but did find that he obstructed justice through his grand jury testimony. How was this possible?<br /><br />Here are the relevant portions of the jury instruction on "obstruction of justice" that led to the conviction:<br /><br />"OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE <br />(18 U.S.C. § 1503) <br /><br />The defendant is charged in Count Five with obstruction of justice in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1503. In order for the defendant to be found guilty of Count 5, the government must prove each of the following elements beyond a reasonable doubt: <br /><br />1. The defendant corruptly, that is, for the purpose of obstructing justice, <br /><br />2. obstructed, influenced, or impeded, or endeavored to obstruct, influence, or impede the grand jury proceeding in which defendant testified, <br /><br />3. by knowingly giving material testimony that was intentionally evasive, false, or misleading. <br /><br />A statement was material if it had a natural tendency to influence, or was capable of influencing, the decision of the grand jury. <br /><br />The government alleges that the underlined portion of the following statements constitute material testimony that was intentionally evasive, false or misleading. In order for the defendant to be found guilty of Count 5, you must all agree that one or more of the following statements was material and intentionally evasive, false or misleading, with all of you unanimously agreeing as to which statement or statements so qualify ...<br /><br />Statement C: <br /><br />Q: Did Greg ever give you anything that required a syringe to inject yourself with? <br /><br />A: I’ve only had one doctor touch me. And that’s my only personal doctor. Greg, like I said, we don’t get into each others’ personal lives. We’re friends, but I don’t – we don’t sit around and talk baseball, because he knows I don’t want – don’t come to my house talking baseball. If you want to come to my house and talk about fishing, some other stuff, we’ll be good friends, you <br />come around talking about baseball, you go on. I don’t talk about his business. You know what I mean? … <br /><br />Q: Right. <br /><br />A: That’s what keeps our friendship. You know, I am sorry, but that – you know, that – I was a celebrity child, not just in baseball by my own instincts. I became a celebrity child with a famous father. I just don’t get into other people’s business because of my father’s situation, you see… "<br /><br />So, was the U.S. Attorney incapable of asking a follow-up question to get an answer as to whether or not Anderson ever injected him? No, there was a specific denial that Anderson injected Bonds in a different portion of the grand jury testimony. Did Bonds' rambling answer prevent the government from obtaining the information that they needed? No. Did Bonds' answer prevent the government from obtaining any convictions in the BALCO case? No. So how exactly is this "obstruction of justice"?<br /><br />This is certainly far from over. My prediction? This single count on which the jury convicted Bonds will not survive the upcoming legal challenges.Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-41812458602417014612011-02-16T11:43:00.000-08:002011-02-16T15:18:28.189-08:00DIANA TAURASI CLEARED, LABORATORY RETRACTS POSITIVE TEST REPORT AFTER EXAMINING HER LEGAL DEFENSEThere was a good editorial piece today in the Hartford newspaper (online) - http://www.courant.com/sports/hockey/hc-jacobs-taurasi-column-0217-20110217,0,6640928.column. The Arizona Republic also had a comprehensive story - http://tucsoncitizen.com/sports-news/2011/02/16/turkey-lifts-provisional-doping-ban-on-diana-taurasi/<br /><br />Aside from the fact that this case should never have been brought in the first place, it certainly should never have been publicized prior to any legal review taking place. The mere accusation of doping is damaging by itself, and being publicly charged and then later cleared never fully restores the athlete. <br /><br />In Diana Taurasi's case, look what happened when her case was reported by the media. Her team terminated her, likely costing the team the European championships. Bloggers immediately jumped on the story with all of their own prejudices and personal motivations (for example, some sports lawyers used the case for their own social media marketing, getting the facts wrong in the process). Most traditional journalists wrote the standard "doping story," some relating the case to the modafinil positives that arose from the BALCO scandal. Shaun Assael at ESPN wrote a good piece about the scientific and legal issues that ultimately led to her being cleared (http://sports.espn.go.com/wnba/news/story?id=6089810).<br /><br />I am honored that Diana Taurasi entrusted me with the difficult task of proving her innocence.Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-50267318102963671842011-02-15T17:55:00.000-08:002011-02-15T18:03:16.948-08:002 INTERESTING ARTICLES IN TODAY'S NEW YORK TIMES (ONLINE)While there will certainly be much more to come, the NY Times so far has the best summary of the recent Contador exoneration in Spain - http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/sports/cycling/16contador.html.<br /><br />NY Times also posts a summary of a recent evidentiary ruling in the Barry Bonds case, which is set to start trial in just over one month-http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/02/15/sports/baseball/AP-BBO-Bonds-Steroids.html?_r=1&ref=sports.Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-81964289266111412932010-10-27T15:43:00.000-07:002010-10-27T15:44:54.428-07:00SNOWBOARDING’S PATH TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES: A HISTORY LESSON FOR COMPETITIVE CHEERLEADING AND DANCEIn my last blog entry, I analyzed competitive cheerleading and dance as growing sports at the high school and collegiate level. I suggested that a path might exist for these sports to grow in the competition arena and potentially even gain entry to the Olympics. This is not as far fetched as it may sound, and does not necessarily have to be that far off in the future. In fact, organization of these “competitive sports” has already started: the International Cheer Union (ICU) will be formally applying to Sport Accord (an association of international sports federations) for membership next year; and the International Dance Sport Federation (IDSF) is already a member of Sport Accord and is diligently working to have competitive dance added as an Olympic Sport. However, history suggests that this may not be the best avenue to achieving Olympic or even NCAA status.<br /><br />Snowboarding offers an interesting historical perspective, with many rather unexpected parallels. As one of the most popular Olympic events at the 2012 Olympics, it is hard to imagine the contentious path that snowboarding took to the Olympic Games. <br /><br />During snowboarding’s rapid growth in the 1990’s, the international federation for the competitive aspects of the sport was the International Snowboard Federation (“ISF”). Terje Haakonsen, regarded by many as the best snowboarder ever, found his early fame on the ISF competition circuit (the ISF is separate from and should not be confused with the International Ski Federation, which is the FIS). <br /><br />In deciding to add snowboarding as an Olympic event in 1998, the International Olympic Committee (“IOC”) controversially decided to name the skiing federation (FIS) as the recognized international federation for snowboarding, instead of the actual snowboarding federation – the ISF. Many professional snowboarders and industry insiders were unhappy with this decision, believing this to be a power grab by the ski federation, who had an existing relationship with the IOC, despite the feeling at the time that the FIS knew little about snowboarding. In fact, significantly and very publicly, Terje Haakonsen boycotted the 1998 Olympic Games, and has never competed in the Olympic Games. All the protests and boycotts did little to elevate the ISF. Instead, as the competitive aspects of the sport shifted to the FIS, the ISF ultimately folded in 2002.<br /><br />Competitive snowboarding has flourished since its introduction to the Olympics. However, the “commercialization” of the sport has not had the dire consequences with respect to the more artistic aspects of snowboarding that some predicted. In fact, today many professional snowboarders have thriving careers based on film and video shoots, combined with commercial endorsements, without competing in snowboarding contests at all. <br /><br />Competitive cheerleading and dance could learn from the experiences of snowboarding. The easiest path to the Olympic Games would be a partnership with an international sports federation that already has events inside the Olympic Games – for example, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG). Organizing competitive cheer or dance under the umbrella of an established federation like FIG could rapidly increase the opportunities for dancers that do not exist today, possibly leading to dance as a full Olympic and NCAA sport. At the same time, as has been experienced with snowboarding, the artistic and professional opportunities that already exist in the dancing world should not be diminished in any way.Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-6959192788425364232010-08-11T15:34:00.000-07:002010-08-11T15:35:45.567-07:00CHEERLEADING AND DANCE: WHO WILL BE THE FIRST SHAUN WHITE OF THESE GROWING SPORTS?Since 1982, when ESPN televised the first of many Cheerleading National Championships, there has been a slow, but consistent evolution of cheerleading from a recreational activity to a competitive sport. To some degree dance has been moving more in a competitive direction as well, with the proliferation of high school dance teams, and the popularity of competition dance shows such as “Dancing With The Stars” and “So You Think You Can Dance.” Since I am surrounded by dancers both at home and at work, the topic of dance as a sport is one in which I have some interest. <br /><br />It is generally accepted that cheerleading is a strenuous activity with a fairly high risk of injury. In fact, Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled last year that cheerleading could be considered as a full contact sport. Cheerleadering accounts for almost two thirds of catastrophic injuries suffered by high school girls and college women, a fact that has been addressed by the NCAA. <br /><br />A sport can be generally defined as an organized activity, requiring skillful capabilities, and in which a winner can be determined objectively according to a principal set of rules. In Title IX cases, some courts have characterized collegiate sport as including off-campus recruiting, a defined season and post season, a consistent set of rules, and competitive contests. <br /><br />Much has been written about whether competitive cheerleading qualifies as a sport under Title IX, and the implications of that decision. See, for example, http://savingsports.blogspot.com. Another related issue that has been less explored is how competitive cheerleading and dance can better organize themselves to avail themselves of the opportunities that exist in collegiate and international sporting arenas. Organization has already started on two separate fronts: the International Cheer Union (ICU), which will be formally applying to Sport Accord (an association of international sports federations) for membership next year; and the International DanceSport Federation (IDSF), who is already a member of Sport Accord and is diligently working to have competitive dance added as an Olympic Sport. However, these organizations have a long way to go. For example, when the Connecticut courts ruled last month that Quinnipiac University’s competitive cheerleading team did not qualify as a sport for Title IX purposes, it was based in part on the observation that “the activity is still too underdeveloped and disorganized to be treated as offering genuine varsity athletic participation opportunities for students.”<br /><br />In my next blog entry, I will offer suggestions as to how competitive cheer and competitive dance could better organize themselves to increase their chance of being recognized as both NCAA and Olympic sports; and how they can learn from the organizational experience of the sport of snowboarding.Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-74883972902717921132010-06-14T14:45:00.000-07:002010-06-14T16:13:41.516-07:00Improving the NFL’s Drug Testing Program: a Proposal (Part Four)In my last blog entry, I recommended that the NFL handle dilute urine samples in a different manner that is more fair to its Players and more consistent with the goals and objectives of an anti-doping program. This entry addresses one peculiar fact within the dual drug-testing programs of the NFL –that certain substances are prohibited under both the Steroid Policy and the Substance Abuse Policy, and that punishment can therefore vary considerably for positive tests for the same exact substance. <br /><br />The NFL has two separate drug-testing policies: (1) the NFL Policy On Anabolic Steroids And Related Substances [“Steroid Policy”); and (2) the NFL Policy And Program For Substances Of Abuse [“Substance Abuse Policy”]. These two policies have very different sanction schedules, with the Substance Abuse Policy being more (appropriately) geared toward treatment than penalizing the athlete. However, amphetamine and methamphetamine are currently prohibited under both policies. <br /><br />Therefore, a player who tests positive for either of these substances will have a very different penalty depending only on whether the test is conducted under the Steroid Policy or the Substance Abuse Policy. Under the Steroid Policy, a first positive test results in a 4-game suspension without pay; a second positive test results in an 8-game suspension without pay; and a third positive test results in a 12-month suspension without pay. However, a player who tests positive for amphetamine or methamphetamine under the Substance Abuse Policy will receive treatment and be subject to further testing for the first positive test; a 4-game suspension without pay for the second positive test; and a suspension without pay for up to 6 games for a third positive test.<br /><br />The NFL and NFLPA should make a policy determination as to whether they believe that amphetamine and methamphetamine more properly belong under the Steroid Policy or the Substance Abuse Policy, and should place these substances under that drug-testing program only. Players should not receive disparate treatment and/or penalties for a positive test for amphetamine or methamphetamine dependent solely on which drug-testing program they are being tested under.Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-41273086875338107252010-05-03T15:02:00.000-07:002010-05-03T15:06:09.466-07:00Improving the NFL’s Drug Testing Program: a Proposal (Part Three)In my last blog entry, I recommended that the NFL modify its approach to fixed penalties, and adopt a system that recognizes that not all conduct merits the same penalty. While there is a certain simplicity in a “one penalty for everything” approach to sanctions, such an approach ignores fundamental principles of fairness and proportionality that the players deserve and respect. A similar “one approach for everything” approach can be seen in the manner in which the NFL addresses dilute urine samples, and related issues surrounding the collection of urine samples. <br /><br />Urine samples can be dilute for a number of reasons, including both (1) drinking large quantities of water in close proximity to the drug test (usually when the collection is shortly after a game or workout), and (2) using a diuretic to lose weight. Dilute urine samples are problematic in drug testing because it can be much more difficult to detect a prohibited substance in a dilute urine sample.<br /><br />Under the NFL’s Policy And Program For Substances Of Abuse, a “dilute sample” is defined as “a urine specimen which has a specific gravity value less than 1.003 and a creatinine concentration of less than 20 mg/dL.” Appendix A-1 to that Policy provides procedures for the handling of a dilute sample, that include the following: <br /><br />(1) Any player who provides a dilute specimen during Pre-Employment Testing or Pre-Season Testing shall enter Stage One of the Intervention Program; <br /><br />(2) a dilute specimen will be tested to the “limits of detection” to determine if there is a presence of any substance banned by the Program or by an individual player’s treatment plan (the presence of a prohibited substance in a dilute specimen is called an “LOD Positive,” and the absence of any prohibited substances is called an “LOD Negative”); <br /><br />(3) Players who provide a dilute urine specimen that is an LOD Positive shall enter Stage One of the Intervention Program by Positive Test; <br /><br />(4) Players who provide a dilute urine specimen that is an LOD Negative shall enter Stage One of the Intervention Program by Behavior; <br /><br />(5) A player who is in either Stage Two or Stage Three of the Intervention Program and provides a dilute urine specimen that is an LOD Positive shall be deemed to have had a Positive Test; and <br /><br />(6) Each time a player enters the Intervention Program, he will be warned the first time he provides a dilute specimen that is LOD Negative after being advanced to Stage Two; however, after this one warning, a player in Stage Two or Stage Three who provides another dilute specimen that is LOD Negative shall be deemed to have produced a Positive Specimen.<br /><br />Therefore, a player who provides a dilute urine sample during drug testing is potentially subject to severe consequences, even if the player did nothing wrong. Under certain circumstances, the NFL will deem a dilute sample to be a positive test even where there is no indication that the player used a prohibited substance. This is completely unnecessary, and punishes players for no reason at all. There is a much better and more fair way to handle dilute urine samples: the player who provides a dilute urine sample should simply be required to remain under supervision until he provides a second sample that is not dilute.<br /><br />A sample collector can determine if a urine sample is too dilute at the time of collection by measuring specific gravity. If the specific gravity of the urine sample is below 1.003, the collector should notify the player that his urine sample is too dilute and that he needs to provide another sample. The collector should at that time also notify the player that (1) the player is required to remain under constant supervision until a suitable sample is collected; (2) the player should not hydrate excessively, as that will delay the production of a suitable sample; and (3) the player will remain under supervision until he provides a urine sample with a specific gravity of 1.003 or greater.<br /><br />While the possibility that a player may have to remain in doping control for an extended period of time until he provides a suitable sample may seem burdensome to the players, the burden is far less than having a dilute sample result in placement in an intervention stage under the Policy And Program For Substances Of Abuse, or worse, having a dilute sample declared a positive test. There is no reason for players to be penalized for providing a dilute sample, when the problem can be remedied by simply collecting another sample or samples.<br /><br />In my next proposal, I will address inconsistencies in the classification of certain substances that are created by the fact that the NFL has separate drug policies for steroids / performance enhancers and for substances of abuse.Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5835875863257662076.post-13636325406460089812010-04-13T14:21:00.000-07:002010-04-13T14:26:52.808-07:00Improving the NFL’s Drug Testing Program: a Proposal (Part Two)In my last blog entry, I recommended that the NFL adopt a system of independent arbitrators to decide appeals. The second important change that is needed in the NFL’s drug-testing policy is a change in the league’s approach to penalties. The league and the union should implement rule changes allowing the NFL to differentiate between cases of intentional and inadvertent doping and impose penalties accordingly.<br /> <br />The supporters of WADA and USADA have frequently criticized NFL suspensions as being too lenient, but in many cases the WADA Code provides for lesser sanctions than the NFL Policy On Anabolic Steroids And Related Substances. Certainly, the WADA Code at least recognizes that athletes should be able to argue for lesser penalties in cases where they are not negligent or are not <span style="font-style:italic;">significantly</span> negligent, and in cases where the substance for which the athlete tested positive is not a serious doping substance. The current NFL Policy makes no such differentiation.<br /><br />Under the current policy, the fixed penalties are:<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight:bold;">First Offense</span>: suspension without pay for 4 regular and/or postseason games;<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight:bold;">Second Offense</span>: suspension without pay for 8 regular and/or postseason games;<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight:bold;">Third Offense</span>: suspension without pay for 12 months.<br /><br />This policy does not differentiate <span style="font-style:italic;">in any way</span> between intentional and unintentional doping, nor does it differentiate at all based on the nature of the substance for which a player tests positive. That means a player who intentionally takes a steroid with the aim of enhancing his performance is treated exactly the same as a player who takes a vitamin that turns out to be contaminated with miniscule amounts of steroids or steroid precursor; is treated exactly the same as a player who takes a diuretic to try to meet a weight clause in his contract; and is treated exactly the same as a player who tests positive for recreational drugs that happen to be banned under the NFL Policy On Anabolic Steroids And Related Substances.<br /><br />The fixed sanctions under the current NFL Policy On Anabolic Steroids And Related Substances are appropriate as <span style="font-style:italic;">maximum</span> penalties, to be applied in cases of intentional doping. Those that argue that the sanction is too lenient as compared to the WADA / USADA system simply ignore how short the average NFL career is in the first place, and further ignore the significant financial penalty that exists in the NFL system that is largely absent in the WADA / USADA system. The NFL should create an acceptable range of sanctions in the following two ways, again drawing from the experience of the WADA Code:<br /><br /> 1. The NFL should adopt a list of “Specified Substances” similar to the WADA Code, and specify a wider sanction range in cases of Specified Substances. The WADA Code defines “Specified Substances” at Article 4.2.2 as follows: “all Prohibited Substances shall be “Specified Substances” except substances in the classes of anabolic agents and hormones and those stimulants and hormone antagonists and modulators so identified on the Prohibited List. Prohibited Methods shall not be Specified Substances.” The WADA Prohibited List specifically identifies the stimulants and hormone antagonists that are “Specified Substances.” Lastly, WADA Code Art. 10.4 requires that in order to be eligible for the reduced sanction, the athlete must “establish how a Specified Substance entered his or her body or came into his or her Possession and that such Specified Substance was not intended to enhance the Athlete’s sport performance or mask the Use of a performance-enhancing substance.” The NFL should incorporate these concepts into its policy, and specify that where the requirements for “Specified Substances” are met, the fixed sanctions are replaced with the following sanction ranges:<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight:bold;">First Offense</span>: suspension without pay for 0-4 regular and/or postseason games;<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight:bold;">Second Offense</span>: suspension without pay for 2-8 regular and/or postseason games;<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight:bold;">Third Offense</span>: suspension without pay for between 4 regular and/or postseason games and 12 months.<br /><br /> 2. The NFL should adopt a system similar to Article 10.5 of the WADA Code, where the sanction can be reduced based on a finding of exceptional circumstances. Article 10.5.1 of the WADA Code provides that if the athlete can establish that he committed no fault or negligence, then the otherwise applicable sanction is eliminated. Article 10.5.2 of the WADA Code provides that if the athlete can establish that he was not <span style="font-style:italic;">significantly</span> at fault or negligence, then the sanction can be reduced, but by no more than 50% of the otherwise applicable sanction. This system could be easily incorporated into the now existing fixed penalties for first, second and third offenses, to allow the league (and where necessary the Hearing Panel) to differentiate between cases of intentional and unintentional doping.<br /><br />These changes to the sanction length and to the concept of <span style="font-style:italic;">fixed</span> sanctions would create a sanctioning scheme that is more fair and that properly differentiates between cases of intentional and inadvertent doping offenses.<br /><br />In my next proposal, I will address issues surrounding sample collection and how the NFL addresses dilute urine samples.Howard Jacobshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00246948805143670961noreply@blogger.com0