Not my usual approach to ask a hypothetical for debate, but the Nike discussion has me thinking.That is to say, could corporate sponsors be held accountable for doping (the same way a coach or agent can be held responsible)? And, more importantly, should the corporate sponsor be required to adhere to decisions/sanctions by the sports governing body?[I know Nike sponsoring Gatlin doesn't meet either of these criteria. This is a broader discussion]As it stands (10.12.1)
No athlete or other Person who has been declared Ineligible may, during the period of Ineligibility, participate in any capacity in a Competition or activity (other than authorized anti-doping education or rehabilitation programs) authorized or organized by any Signatory, Signatory’s member organization, or a club or other member organization of a Signatory’s member organization, or in Competitions authorized or organized by any professional league or any international- or national-level event organization or any elite or national-level sporting activity funded by a governmental agency. An athlete or other Person subject to a period of Ineligibility longer than four years may, after completing four years of the period of Ineligibility ,participate as an athlete in local sport events not sanctioned or otherwise under the jurisdiction of a Code Signatory or member of a Code Signatory ,but only so long as the local sport event is not at a level that could otherwise qualify such athlete or other Person directly or indirectly to compete in (or accumulate points toward) a national championship or International event, and does not involve the athlete or other Person working in any capacity with Minors. An athlete or other Person subject to a period of Ineligibility shall remain subject to testing.
So a sanction means a ban on participation in pretty much any capacity, and the disqualification of results within the time period.
And
10.12.4
Withholding of Financial Support during Ineligibility
In addition, for any anti-doping rule violation not involving a reduced sanction as described in Article 10.4 or 10.5, some or all sport-related financial support or other sport-related benefits received by such Person will be withheld by Signatories, Signatories’ member organizations and governments.
So, any National Funding/Grants/Lottery Funding between the athlete and a governing body (any signatories) is cut off. While the anti-doping agency can recoup losses incurred by any appeals in the sanction process, they can only reallocate prize money if the national federation allows it (No idea who does or doesn't). (But any sponsors can hold on as long as they want. Lance Armstrong's sponsors are an Example. Trek, Oakley, and others all held on for too long.)
Hypothetically, do we want sponsors to became a new category in the WADA code? Do we want WADA to be able to enforce a sponsor to cut ties with a sanctioned athlete during ineligibility? Do we want sponsors to be held accountable for complicity? Should we require athletes to only take on sponsors who sign on as parties to the Code?
2.9 Complicity: Assisting, encouraging, aiding, abetting, conspiring, covering up or any other type of intentional complicity involving an anti-doping rule violation, attempted anti-doping rule violation or violation of Article 10.12.1 by another Person
Right now, they have no obligation to endorse WADA decisions besides the invisible hand. Athletes also receive very few financial consequences for their fraud. Would adding a little more financial leverage help keep athletes ethical? But imagine a company like Under Armor. They could sign on and not need to worry about their doped football players, because NFL is not a WADA signatory. But now they're a little more investigative of potential WADA athletes coming in. Good? What if they don't sign on, and no Adidas money goes to big sports? Bad business? Would the Code bring enough leverage to budge big companies? Would it have any real impact on the sport? Not to mention the international business law that would have to be sorted out...
There are a lot of implications beyond by realm. I'd like to sort it out though