Contact:Jill M. Geer
USATF Director of Communications
317-261-0500 x360
[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.usatf.org
For Immediate Release
Monday, April 29, 2002
USATF expresses optimism about compliance process
INDIANAPOLIS - The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and USA Track
Field (USATF) have expressed a shared commitment to pursue completion of
USATFs compliance with USOC rules and recommendations following the April
21 USOC Board of Directors meeting in Boston.
In his report to the full USOC Board in Boston, USOC Membership
Credentials Committee Chairman Tom Satrom said, In performing one of our
routine compliance reviews, we found USATF to be out of compliance in
several areas. We are not recommending suspension. We are not recommending
probation. We are not recommending revocation of [USOC] membership. We are
simply finding them out of compliance.
More than 10 USOC National Governing Bodies (NGBs) currently are in the
membership compliance process, with sports such as gymnastics and soccer
among those coming into compliance in recent years.
The Membership Credentials Committee will review USATFs compliance
status during its June and September meetings. A resolution approved by the
USOC Board in Boston identifies August 31 as the date by which USATF is
required to achieve full compliance.
I would be surprised if they dont meet that goal, Satrom told his fellow
USOC Board members. Im pleased to report that USATF has been very
cooperative. In the 10 years Ive been involved with this committee, I don
t recall any other NGB moving as fast. We think they have an excellent game
plan.
We are a proud member of the Olympic family, USATF President Bill Roe
said in his remarks to the USOC group. USA Track Field will move with
all due haste, and well before August 31, to resolve these issues. I am
confident we can do so.
Satrom reported that with regard to minor issues, USATF has already come
into compliance with six of the seven financial procedures recommended by
the Committee and that the seventh is optional. On April 14, the USATF
Board of Directors took action to ensure the language of that organizations
bylaws matches the requirements of the USOC constitution.
In its April 8 response to the USOCs report, USATF said in regard to
doping issues that We will do whatever USADA or the Membership Committee
recommends to improve our performance in this area.
Earlier this month the International Association of Athletics Federations
(IAAF) announced that it is referring a domestic doping case from 1999,
about which it has disagreed with USATF, to the Court of Arbitration for
Sport (CAS).
I am extremely pleased with how USATF has responded, USOC Chief Executive
Officer Lloyd Ward told the media following the USOC Board of Directors
meeting. Theyve cooperated fully and have implemented several changes
already. Im impressed with the way they have handled themselves, with
their diligence and responsiveness. I know USATF has taken all these things
seriously. This is a very powerful and necessary relationship [between the
USOC and USATF].
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