We welcome news of the indictment of Paul Askew, which is the latest under the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act (RADA).
We are extremely grateful that RADA was signed into law by the Trump administration in 2020 after being passed with unanimous bi-partisan support by Congress in the wake of the unprecedented state-sponsored doping fraud perpetrated by the Russian state and sport system.
We are also grateful to the Department of Justice, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, for uncovering and prosecuting fraudulent activity that robs clean athletes and the public. We also appreciate the ongoing collaboration with the Athletics Integrity Unit on investigations, which has proved invaluable in uncovering additional evidence. It’s these true partnerships among like-minded organizations working closely to eradicate doping, like in this case, that gives clean athletes hope and confidence that their rights will be upheld.
A DEA spokesperson has also commented on the case: “This indictment marks the culmination of a coordinated investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Orlando District Office’s Central Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force 2, the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, and the Middle District of Florida United States Attorney’s Office,” said DEA Orlando District Office Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Christopher Lane. “Their work protected the integrity of the 2024 Summer Olympics and sent an unmistakable message that attempts to undermine major international sporting competitions will be met with decisive action.”
RADA continues to be an incredibly important tool that strengthens the global fight for clean sport by holding accountable the athlete support personnel and others who enable and profit from doping. While athletes face clear sanctions under the World Anti-Doping Code, others have escaped responsibility for undermining the integrity of sport. Without RADA, this indictment of an athlete support person never would have happened, demonstrating how it can be a powerful complement to the Code in ensuring that all those who engage in doping fraud are held accountable.
RADA and the ability to hold accountable those who conspire against the rules is more important than ever as the U.S. prepares to host a mega decade of sporting events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
