The Need for WADA to Address Confidentiality Leaks in Drug Testing in Olympic Sports – The Ian Thorpe Situation / John T. Wendt. – (International Sports Law Journal (2010) 3-4 : p. 47-54)
Content:
- Introduction
- Thorpe’s Accomplishments
- Thorpe as an Anti-Doping Crusader
- Ressiot and l’Equipe
- Reactions to the Leak and Accusation
- WADA and Confidentiality
- Thorpe and Ressiot
- FINA, ASADA and Thorpe
- Thorpe Sues Ressiot and L’Equipe
- Reforms and Need for Confidentiality
- Changes to the World Anti-Doping Code
- Conclusion
- References
Ian Thorpe is an Australian successful elite level swimmers.
Thorpe has also been one of the leading opponents of doping.
He was a founding athlete-member of the World Anti-Doping
Association’s (WADA) “Athlete’s Passport” Program and was one of the first to provide blood samples to be frozen for future testing in accordance with WADA’s new testing procedures (World Anti-
Doping Code Annual Report, 2002). But, that reputation was tarnished when someone leaked confidential information to Damien Ressiot, a journalist for the French newspaper, L’Equipe, who accused Thorpe of committing a doping offense. For Ian Thorpe, there were two volatile issues − first, the truth of the allegations, and second the breach of confidentiality of his personal records.
Confidentiality is at the heart of any drug testing program. Names should not be revealed, unless it is firmly and legally established that a doping offense has been committed. A breach of confidentiality and media leaks undermine the entire system. It is essential that there is confidentiality throughout the whole process until there is a finding that an individual has in fact committed a doping offense. This comment looks at the breach of confidentiality of Ian Thorpe’s records, and the need for WADA to act to remedy the problem.
