Thomas Bach
IOC President
July 23, 2016
Dear President Bach, Dear Fellow Olympian,
The Olympic Movement stands at a crossroads, a pivotal moment when the balance can be
tipped against those who seek to win by cheating, when the rights of clean athletes everywhere
can be properly protected and when the disillusionment and distrust of the general public in the
sanctity and fairness of sport can be dispelled.
We, as Olympians, as the voice of Olympians worldwide, understand what is at stake at this
moment. We know that the IOC will do its upmost to sanction the cheats while seeking to
protect the rights of clean athletes everywhere. That is not an easy balancing act. And we fully
support the IOC in your endeavors to achieve that balance.
In your Executive Board discussions tomorrow we wish you all the best in trying to resolve
these issues so that Olympians in Rio, and in the future, can compete knowing that there is a
level playing field, that the drug cheats will not be able to take the field and that the rights of
those who are clean are protected.
To that end, while sanctioning those who have been shown to be guilty with the full force at
your disposal, we ask you to also find a way to ensure that those who can prove with certainty
that they are clean, who have been properly and independently tested and are well documented
to be negative, can compete in Rio and beyond.
Concerning the Russian case, we think that establishing a potential global responsibility can’t be
fairly done without at the same time examining all individual cases. And if any Russian athlete
can prove individually that they are clean, then global responsibility should not apply. We
kindly ask you to look at this with the most accurate objectivity and outside of any influence or
pressure.
In the longer term we would ask the IOC to consider a three-point plan to root out the cheats
forever. The plan would consist of anti-doping testing that is fully independent of
countries/sports/event organizers, a permanent mechanism to allow clean athletes to compete
even if their country/sport is sanctioned and dramatically increased funding for research into
improved anti-doping testing.
You can rest assured that you have the support of Olympians everywhere in your efforts to find
the right balance between the most stringent penalties for those who besmirch the good name of
the Olympics and sport by cheating, and the rights of individuals who have trained so hard over
so many years to inspire themselves and others by their achievements and have done no wrong.
We remain, as the World Olympians Association and as individual Olympians, at your
disposal.
Best Olympian regards
Joel Bouzou
WOA President
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