On Monday 1 September, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) sent a letter to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) proposing the creation of a joint inquiry commission to thoroughly examine the Jerome Young case. In combining the experience and force of both organisations, the IOC believes that better results can be achieved.

Further step
The IOC had earlier urged the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to pursue this matter. The letter to WADA is a further step highlighting the importance that the IOC gives to this case.

Alleged doping offence
The alleged doping offence of Jerome Young was revealed by the Los Angeles Times on 28 August 2003 and goes back to the summer of 1999, ahead of the Games of the XXVII Olympiad in Sydney where Young competed as a member of the US team that won the gold medal in the 4 x 100 m relay. ‘Since it goes back prior to the Sydney Olympic Games, the competent authority is the IAAF and, in addition, the USOC, which has the authority to decide upon the entry of an athlete in the Olympic Games’; the IOC outlined in a recent statement on Olympic.org.

For more details contact:

Karen Webb
International Olympic Committee (I.O.C.)
Group Manager Marketing Communications
Tel: +41 21 621 6415
Fax: +41 21 621 62 16