Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18
Wednesday 5 February 2020

WADA: U.S.

bill could HEAT

'shatter the

anti-doping

system' WAVE

By EDDIE PELLS
AP National Writer
The World Anti-Doping
Agency sent a letter to U.S.
Senators explaining how
a bill designed to deter
drug cheats in internation-
al sports would, instead,
"have the unintended con-
sequences of shattering
the anti-doping system" if it
is passed without changes.
The document, obtained
by The Associated Press,
was sent this week at the
request of a Senate com-
mittee that is holding a
hearing Wednesday in
which it will hear testimony
about the Rodchenkov
Act.
The House passed the
bill last year, and WADA
has hired a lobbying firm
to engage Congress for
changes in the legisla-
tion triggered by a Russia
cheating scheme that has
shaken the global Olympic
movement for the past five
years.
WADA director general
Olivier Niggli told AP that
"WADA favors govern-
ments using their legislative
powers to protect clean
athletes in the fight against
doping and this Act is no
exception."
The six-page WADA let-
ter does, in fact, say the
agency "supports the over-
all objectives of the legisla-
tion." The letter also goes Butler scores 38, Heat
into extensive detail about
provisions it says would cre-
ate a "chaotic World Anti- roll past 76ers 137-106
Doping system with no le-
gal predictability."

Continued on Page 23 Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler reacts after scoring during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers,
Monday, Feb. 3, 2020, in Miami.
Associated Press
Page 20