H.R. 2 Enrolled

RESOLUTION ON IOC ATHLETIC DRUG TESTING POLICY
1998 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Sponsor: Perry Buckner
Gary F. Cox

A RESOLUTION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES URGING THE
INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE TO BAN THE ILLEGAL USE OF DRUGS BY
ATHLETES COMPETING IN OLYMPIC EVENTS; AND URGING THE COMMITTEE TO
GIVE ATHLETES OFFICIAL NOTICE OF ALL DRUGS BANNED, ALL DRUG TESTS,
AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF A POSITIVE TEST VERIFIED BY FOLLOW UP TESTS,
INCLUDING THE LOSS OF ANY MEDAL OR AWARD.
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the state of Utah:
WHEREAS Olympic competition garners international attention and has a great influence
on youth throughout the world;
WHEREAS at the Olympic level of competition, where the difference between winning
a gold medal and receiving no medal can be fractions of a second in a timed event or a fraction of
a point in a scored event, any outside chemical influence can have an effect on the outcome of the
competition;
WHEREAS current agreements between the International Olympic Committee and the
various sport federations vary widely in the types of drugs athletes are tested for;
WHEREAS the argument that marijuana is not a performance enhancing drug but simply
a drug of lifestyle that has no physical effect on the athlete ignores the fact that marijuana is a mind
altering substance which can affect a person's perception, ability to recognize pain or fatigue, or
enhance relaxation, any of which has an impact on an athlete's ability to perform;
WHEREAS in addition to the chemical enhancing effect of drugs on athletes, there is an
equal, if not greater, effect on the perceptions of youth throughout the world when they see athletes
rewarded despite their drug use;
WHEREAS in physical activities, athletes whose perception is altered by marijuana or
another illegal drug could block fear, pain, fatigue and adjust their performance in competition

accordingly, gaining an advantage over athletes who do not use the drug;
WHEREAS the International Olympic Committee should enter into an agreement with each
Olympic sport federation to test athletes for the use of drugs that are illegal in the majority of nations
participating in the Olympics in addition to testing for the presence of performance enhancing drugs
already conducted;
WHEREAS the International Olympic Committee should also make it clear to competing
Olympic athletes that tests for illegal drugs will be conducted regardless of whether the drug is
officially classified as performance enhancing, and that the consequences of a positive test that is
verified by follow up tests is the loss of any Olympic medal or award; and
WHEREAS these steps are vital to maintaining the integrity of the Olympic games and
preserving the ideal of rewarding excellence in athletic performance:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the state of
Utah urge the International Olympic Committee to prohibit athletes from using drugs that are illegal
in a majority of nations participating in the Olympics.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives urge the International
Olympic Committee to notify each Olympic competitor of the drugs that are banned, the tests
conducted to detect drug use, and the consequences of a positive test that is confirmed by follow up
tests, including the loss of any medal or award.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the International
Olympic Committee and the Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic Winter Games of
2002.

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