THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release August 9, 2000
EXECUTIVE ORDER
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CREATION OF THE WHITE HOUSE TASK FORCE ON DRUG USE IN
SPORTS AND AUTHORIZATION FOR THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE
OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY TO SERVE AS THE
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT'S REPRESENTATIVE ON THE
BOARD OF THE WORLD ANTI-DOPING AGENCY
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the
laws of the United States of America, including the Office of National Drug
Control Reauthorization Act of 1998, (21 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), and in order
to develop recommendations for Federal agency actions to address the use of
drugs in sports, in particular among young people, it is hereby ordered as
follows:
Section 1. Policy. The use of drugs in sports has reached a level
that endangers not just the legitimacy of athletic competition but also the
lives and health of athletes -- from the elite ranks to youth leagues. The
National Household Survey on Drug Abuse issued in 1999 found that in just 1
year's time the rate of steroid use among young people rose roughly 50
percent among both sexes and across all age groups. It is the policy of my
Administration to take the steps needed to help eliminate illicit or
otherwise banned drug use and doping in sports at the State, national, and
international level.
Sec. 2. Establishment of a White House Task Force on Drug Use in
Sports. (a) There is established a White House Task Force on Drug Use in
Sports (Task Force). The Task Force shall comprise the co-vice chairs of
the White House Olympic Task Force (the "Olympic Task Force Vice Chairs"),
and represen-tatives designated by the Office of National Drug Control
Policy, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of
Labor, the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, the Office
of Management and Budget, the National Security Council, the Department of
State, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Education, the
Department of Justice, the Department of Transportation, the National
Institute on Drug Abuse, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration.
(b) The Task Force shall develop recommendations for the President on
further executive and legislative actions that can be undertaken to address
the problem of doping and drug use in sports. In developing the
recommendations, the Task Force shall consider, among other things: (i)
the health and safety of America's athletes, in particular our Nation's
young people; (ii) the integrity of honest athletic competition; and (iii)
the views and recommendations of State and local governments, the private
sector, citizens, community groups, and nonprofit organizations, on actions
to address this threat. The Task Force, through its Chairs, shall submit
its recommen-dations to the President.
(c) The Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (the
Director), the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services,
and the Olympic Task Force Vice Chairs or their designees shall serve as
the Task Force Chairs.
(d) To the extent permitted by law and at the request of the Chairs,
agencies shall cooperate with and provide information to the Task Force.
Sec. 3. Participation in the World Anti-Doping Agency. (a) As part
of my Administration's efforts to address the problem of drug use in
sports, the United States has played a leading role in the formation of a
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) by the Olympic and sports community and the
nations of the world. Through these efforts, the United States has been
selected to serve as a governmental representative on the board of the
WADA. This order will authorize the Director to serve as the United States
Government's representative on the WADA board.
(b) Pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 1701 et seq., the Director, or in his
absence his designee, is hereby authorized to take all necessary and proper
actions to execute his responsibilities as United States representative to
the WADA.
(c) To assist the Director in carrying out these responsi-bilities as
the United States Government representative to the WADA and to the extent
permitted by law, Federal employees may serve in their official capacity,
inter alia, on WADA Committees or WADA advisory committees, serving as
experts to the WADA.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
THE WHITE HOUSE,
August 9, 2000.
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