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SPORTS Thursday 20 december 2018
Senators bring bill to criminalize

vast doping conspiracies

By EDDIE PELLS ence international sports help elect Donald Trump
AP National Writer competitions through dop- president in 2016.
Two U.S. senators have in- ing. "To remain a 'city on a hill,'
troduced a bill that would The bill is being introduced America must hold the
criminalize international two months after the Jus- crooked and corrupt ac-
doping conspiracies, the tice Department indicted countable whenever we
likes of which Russia pur- seven people for involve- can. That means forcefully
sued during the Sochi ment in a wide-ranging confronting Russia's use of
Olympics in 2014. Russian hacking scheme corruption as a tool of for-
The measure is named after that sought out interna- eign policy," Whitehouse In this Dec. 6, 2017, file photo, the building of the Russian Olym-
Grigory Rodchenkov, the tional anti-doping agen- said. pic Committee is seen through a gate decorated with the Olym-
Moscow lab director who cies among its targets. That The bill would give pros- pic rings, in Moscow, Russia.
blew the whistle on Russian scheme revealed medical ecutors some of the same Associated Press
cheating. It is similar to a records of more than 250 tools they used to bring in-
bill introduced in the House athletes. A U.S. attorney dictments in 2015 against a USADA, which has joined a "I think this is a very direct
earlier this year but is given involved in the case said it number of FIFA executives chorus of world anti-doping way to deter further crimi-
a better chance of passing was part of Russia's quest for racketeering, wire fraud agencies in criticizing the nal activity."
in part because it focuses for revenge after some of and other financial crimes. World Anti-Doping Agency The bill specifically targets
on large-scale corruption its athletes were banned U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and the International Olym- organizations that conduct
and eliminates language from the 2016 Olympics. CEO Travis Tygart called pic Committee for showing doping fraud at major in-
that would put individuals Under the bill, doping is the bill part of an "overall leniency toward Russia in ternational competitions,
in jeopardy for smaller of- added to the list of areas in recognition that doping is the wake of the scandal. such as world champion-
fenses. which Russia is using sophis- fraud, and when it's done "I think there was unani- ships or the Olympics. While
Sponsored by Sens. Orrin ticated schemes to disrupt by organizations, it's going mous agreement (among the House bill would have
Hatch, R-Utah, and Sheldon American institutions. Earlier to be put on the same lev- U.S. lawmakers) that the in- left open the prospect of
Whitehouse, D-Rhode Is- this week, the Senate intelli- el as other types of fraud. stitutions that are supposed athletes suing each oth-
land, the bill calls for fines of gence committee released That's a really powerful to be policing doping are er for damages, this one
up to $1 million and prison reports detailing Russia's statement." not working and, in many would give victims of the
sentences of up to 10 years widespread political dis- The bill calls for federal ways, are emboldening conspiracies the ability to
for those who participate in information campaign on agencies pursuing doping cheaters," said Rodchen- receive restitution for mon-
schemes designed to influ- social media , designed to cases to consult with the kov's attorney, Jim Walden. ey and opportunities lost.q

CUBA, MLB the International Chamber linked to a Mexican drug
Continued from Page 17 of Commerce. gang, according to court
The agreement marks a "Establishing a safe, legal testimony. "To know fu-
step forward in U.S.-Cuba process for entry to our sys- ture Cuban players will not
relations during a time of tem is the most important have to go through what
tensions between Cuba step we can take to end- we went through makes
and the Trump administra- ing the exploitation and me so happy."
tion, which has pledged endangerment of Cuban Cuban-born players have
to undo President Barack players who pursue careers a long history in the ma-
Obama's 2014 opening in Major League Baseball," jor leaguers, led by Minnie
with the island. union head Tony Clark said Minoso with nine All-Star
MLB said the deal was al- in a statement. "The safety selections, Tony Oliva with
lowed by amendments to and well-being of these eighth and Camilo Pascual
the Cuban Asset Control young men remains our pri- and Tony Perez with seven
Regulations of March 16, mary concern." each. And while Puig, Or-
2016, that established the Only players under con- lando and Livan Hernan-
provisions of a general li- tract to the Cuban federa- dez, Aroldis Chapman and
cense from the U.S. Trea- tion are covered by the others became stars in re-
sury Department's Office agreement, and the Cu- cent decades, others have
of Foreign Assets Control. ban federation agreed to been big-money busts.
The league said OFAC con- release all players 25 and Outfielder Rusney Castillo
firmed to Major League older with at least six years In this Monday, May 3, 1999 file photo, members of the Cuban agreed to a $72.5 million,
baseball team carry their country's flag onto the field after a
Baseball in a letter dated of professional experience. baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards seven-year contract with
Sept. 20, 2016, that an They would be classified as in Baltimore. Boston in 2014 and has ap-
agreement with the Cuban international professionals Associated Press peared in just 99 games
federation would be valid. under MLB's labor contract with the Red Sox while
"Baseball has always been with the players' associa- negotiate a major league safe passage to the U.S." playing 347 in the minor
a bridge between our two tion and not subject to in- contract. He may use a Players have told stories of leagues.
nations, facilitating people- ternational amateur sign- representative other than harrowing crossings on rafts "Words cannot fully express
to-people connections and ing bonus pools. an agent to negotiate a and rickety boats — some my heartfelt joy," Chicago
larger agreements that The Cuban federation may minor league deal. later challenged as exag- White Sox All-Star first base-
have brought our countries at its discretion release U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, an Ari- gerations. man Jose Abreu said in a
closer together," said Sen. younger players to sign mi- zona Republic, called it "Today is a day that I am statement. "Dealing with
Patrick Leahy, a Vermont nor league contracts with a "homerun agreement," extremely happy," said a the exploitation of smug-
Democrat. MLB organizations. tweeting "This deal will statement from Los Ange- glers and unscrupulous
Any disputes between MLB A player can decide make life better for Cuban les Dodgers outfielder Yas- agencies will finally come
and the Cuban federation whether he wants a reg- baseball players, who will iel Puig, who was smuggled to an end for the Cuban
are subject to resolution by istered MLBPA agent to no longer have to risk un- out of Cuba by traffickers baseball player. q