In a letter obtained by GamesBids.com, USOC President Bill Martin told IOC President Jacques Rogge that all outstanding dues will be paid to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in the “next 60 to 90 days” and that it should “in no way become a barrier to the NYC2012 Olympic bid effort.”
WADA president Dick Pound has cited several countries, including the United States, for being delinquent in some or all of the required payments to WADA and warned that penalties could include disqualification from bidding for future Olympic Games and being prohibited from flying their national flags at the 2004 Athens Games. Pound said the penalties will be finalized this week.
“The funding that will soon be provided to WADA by the ONDCP is included in a Treasury/Transportation bill that could be passed by the United States Congress as early as this week. Once the bill has been passed by Congress and signed into law by the President, the appropriation of these funds will be made” Martin wrote.
“The issue is not whether the U.S. Government will fulfill its obligations, but rather the timetable under which it is legally empowered to transfer the funds. We understand this is a matter that has been discussed in great detail with WADA Chairman Dick Pound.”
The letter describes a discrepancy between WADA’s calendar year and the U.S. government’s fiscal year as the culprit behind the delay.
Brazil is also behind in WADA payments and its 2012 bid from Rio de Janeiro could face the same penalties.
New York and Rio de Janeiro are among nine international cities bidding for the 2012 Olympic Games.
*** FULL TEXT OF LETTER ***
November 20, 2003
Dear Dr. Rogge:
I would like to take this opportunity to provide you with an update on the status of the funding that will be provided by the United States Government, through the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (“ONDCP”), to the World Anti-Doping Agency (“WADA”). I can assure you the United States Olympic Committee (“USOC”) and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (“USADA”) share your assessment of the importance of this matter.
It is our understanding the payment due from the ONDCP to WADA will likely be made in the next 60 to 90 days.
The U.S. Government, through the ONDCP, annually provides $800,000 in direct funding to WADA – an amount that places the United States among the top three nations in the Olympic movement with respect to providing financial support to the agency. These funds are made available through the Federal appropriation process. The funding that will soon be provided to WADA by the ONDCP is included in a Treasury/Transportation bill that could be passed by the United States Congress as early as this week. Once
the bill has been passed by Congress and signed into law by the President, the appropriation of these funds will be made.
One of the complications that the ONDCP, or any other Federal agency, faces in processing payments to WADA is the fact that WADA operates on a calendar year that does not coincide with the fiscal year of the U.S. Government. The issue is not whether the U.S. Government will fulfill its obligations, but rather the timetable under which it is legally empowered to transfer the funds. We understand this is a matter that has been discussed in great detail with WADA Chairman Dick Pound.
Please be assured this matter should in no way become a barrier to the NYC2012 Olympic bid effort. The USOC has been in close contact with the ONDCP and members of Congress regarding this matter, and our government fully understands the importance of supporting WADA, USADA and other entities involved in the fight against doping in sport.
Should you have any questions or wish to discuss this matter in greater detail, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Best regards,
William C. Martin
