H.R. 2

1

RESOLUTION ON IOC ATHLETIC DRUG
2 TESTING POLICY
3 1998 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Perry Buckner
6 A RESOLUTION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES URGING THE
7 INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE TO BAN THE ILLEGAL USE OF DRUGS BY
8 ATHLETES COMPETING IN OLYMPIC EVENTS; AND URGING THE COMMITTEE TO
9 GIVE ATHLETES OFFICIAL NOTICE OF ALL DRUGS BANNED, ALL DRUG TESTS,
10 AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF A POSITIVE TEST VERIFIED BY FOLLOW UP TESTS,
11 INCLUDING THE LOSS OF ANY MEDAL OR AWARD.
12 Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the state of Utah:
13 WHEREAS Olympic competition garners international attention and has a great influence
14 on youth throughout the world;
15 WHEREAS at the Olympic level of competition, where the difference between winning
16 a gold medal and receiving no medal can be fractions of a second in a timed event or a fraction of
17 a point in a scored event, any outside chemical influence can have an effect on the outcome of the
18 competition;
19 WHEREAS current agreements between the International Olympic Committee and the
20 various sport federations vary widely in the types of drugs athletes are tested for;
21 WHEREAS the argument that marijuana is not a performance enhancing drug but simply
22 a drug of lifestyle that has no physical effect on the athlete ignores the fact that marijuana is a mind
23 altering substance which can affect a person's perception, ability to recognize pain or fatigue, or
24 enhance relaxation, any of which has an impact on an athlete's ability to perform;
25 WHEREAS in addition to the chemical enhancing effect of drugs on athletes, there is an
26 equal, if not greater, effect on the perceptions of youth throughout the world when they see athletes
27 rewarded despite their drug use;

1 WHEREAS in physical activities, athletes whose perception is altered by marijuana or
2 another illegal drug could block fear, pain, fatigue and adjust their performance in competition
3 accordingly, gaining an advantage over athletes who do not use the drug;
4 WHEREAS the International Olympic Committee should enter into an agreement with
5 each Olympic sport federation to test athletes for the use of drugs that are illegal in the majority
6 of nations participating in the Olympics in addition to testing for the presence of performance
7 enhancing drugs already conducted;
8 WHEREAS the International Olympic Committee should also make it clear to competing
9 Olympic athletes that tests for illegal drugs will be conducted regardless of whether the drug is
10 officially classified as performance enhancing, and that the consequences of a positive test that is
11 verified by follow up tests is the loss of any Olympic medal or award; and
12 WHEREAS these steps are vital to maintaining the integrity of the Olympic games and
13 preserving the ideal of rewarding excellence in athletic performance:
14 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the state
15 of Utah urge the International Olympic Committee to prohibit athletes from using drugs that are
16 illegal in a majority of nations participating in the Olympics.
17 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the House of Representatives urge the International
18 Olympic Committee to notify each Olympic competitor of the drugs that are banned, the tests
19 conducted to detect drug use, and the consequences of a positive test that is confirmed by follow
20 up tests, including the loss of any medal or award.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the International
22 Olympic Committee and the Salt Lake Olympic Committee for the Winter Olympic Games of
23 2002.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-20-98 4:11 PM

A limited legal review of this bill raises no obvious constitutional or statutory concerns.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel

- 2 -