(Olympic.org) The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) have agreed to ask the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for a definitive ruling concerning the IOC’s “Regulations Regarding Participation in the Olympic Games – Rule 45 of the Olympic Charter”, known as the “Osaka” or “6 Month” rule. The Regulations state that any athlete receiving a doping sanction of greater than six months is barred from competing in the next Olympic Games and Olympic Winter Games following the expiration of the doping sanction.
“In the interest of ensuring that all eligible athletes are able to compete in their respective Olympic qualification process, and to establish a degree of certainty as we head towards the Olympic Games in London, the USOC and the IOC have agreed to place the question of the regulation before the CAS for a definitive ruling,” said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun. “I’d like to thank the IOC for their willingness to proceed in this manner and for the quality and the tone of the discussions that we have had regarding this matter.”
According to IOC Director General, Christophe De Kepper, “This arbitration will provide certainty in the lead up to the 2012 London Olympic Games.”
The petition is in the course of being submitted to the CAS. The arbitration agreement between the IOC and the USOC calls for an expedited review of the matter. The Regulations were passed by the IOC Executive Board on 23 June 2008 and could impact athletes from different countries around the world in relation to the 2012 London Olympic Games. While the USOC is the petitioner, the arbitration procedure shall be conducted so that the CAS ruling will be widely accepted.
