In an blog entry recently published on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) website, the organization’s president reveals his thoughts on potential ways global sports’ stakeholders can more robustly contribute to the clean sport cause.
Sir Craig Reedie, president of WADA and vice president within the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is attempting to rally support among both sponsors and broadcasters to play a more active role in the anti-doping movement. Reedie cites how both sponsors and broadcasters are each dealt a blow to business should an athlete be involved in a doping scandal and, thus, each has a vested interest in protecting integrity of sport.
On that vein, Reedie is calling upon both sports industry components to monetarily contribute to WADA’s anti-doping measures in the form of ‘taxes.’ As an example, Reedie suggests within his editorial statement that even what he refers to as a ‘minute’ .5% tax on the estimated $35 billion media rights revenue would render $175 million as a contribution to WADA. That amount of money would increase WADA’s budget ‘fivefold’, says Reedie, making the organization better able to protect the clean athlete.
“With such extra funds, we could make a greater impact in protecting the rights of the clean athletes, and in turn uphold the integrity of sport. This significant boost to clean sport could allow for further investigations, more quality-based testing, better research, and could allow us to disseminate that all-important values-based education so that we get the message across to tomorrow’s athletes.”
As far as sponsorship dollars go, Reedie presents the idea that a company’s funds that would have gone to a now-sanctioned athlete be diverted to the anti-doping movement instead. “Such a move would be in step with public opinion, and from a public relations perspective would be advantageous, to.” ways Reedie.
What exactly will transpire from Reedie’s Op-Ed piece is unknown at this point, but the 75-year-old WADA leader urges international debate on these topics to begin in earnest. You can read the entire statement here.
Bad idea. WADA appealing the fans desire of a clean sport to increase their budget 5 fold. As soon as you give it to them they’ll have their hands out again.
And no doubt have their pockets full .