Letter to Speaker Pelosi and Leaders Schumer, McCarthy, and McConnell - Reauthorization of the United States Anti-Doping Agency

Letter

Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader Schumer, Leader McConnell, and Leader McCarthy:

We are writing to request that Congress reauthorize the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) as part of upcoming omnibus legislation.

As you know, the 2022 Winter Olympics are currently underway. Unfortunately, the Games have already starkly demonstrated the importance of rigorous drug testing regimes for athletes: last week, the public learned that a gold-medal winning Russian figure skater had tested positive for a banned substance in December. For reasons not fully clear to us, that skater has been allowed to continue to participate; regardless, it is a clear reminder of the important role USADA plays in protecting U.S. athletes and promoting clean sport.

The House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation (H.R. 172) in April of last year to reauthorize USADA through 2029. Despite facing no observable opposition, that legislation has languished in the Senate for the past ten months. We therefore urge you to include USADA reauthorization in any upcoming spending bill. It is critical that the agency has the authorities and the resources it needs to conduct its operations -- especially in light of the upcoming 2028 Olympics, to be held in Los Angeles.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

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