Athlete Ombuds
The Office of the Athlete Ombuds offers independent, confidential advice to elite athletes regarding their rights and responsibilities in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, and assists athletes with a broad range of questions, disputes, complaints and concerns.
Phone: 719-866-5000
Email: ombudsman@usathlete.org
Website: usathlete.org
Independence
1. The Athlete Ombuds will be free from outside control, influence and conflicts of interest.
2. The Athlete Ombuds neither acts as an agent for, nor accepts notice on behalf of, the USOPC and shall not serve in a position or role that is designated as a place to receive notice on behalf of the USOPC.
3. Statements made by the Athlete Ombuds shall not be deemed to reflect the views or positions of the USOPC.
4. The Athlete Ombuds will exercise their discretion over whether or how to act regarding an individual’s concern, trends, or systemic issues and should not be subject to retaliation based on the use of such discretion.
5. The Athlete Ombuds may make recommendations to the USOPC or the appropriate NGB at any time where circumstances or trends suggest that athletes’ rights in the administration of fair, transparent, timely and equitable policies and processes may be threatened.
Impartiality
1. The Athlete Ombuds has a responsibility to consider the legitimate concerns and interests of all individuals affected by a matter under consideration, including athletes on multiple sides of an issue.
2. When formal proceedings are invoked, and an athlete needs individual representation, the Athlete Ombuds may assist in identifying legal counsel.
Athlete Ombuds Confidentiality and Privacy Policy:
(A) In general.—The Office of the Athlete Ombuds shall maintain as confidential any information communicated or provided to the Office of the Athlete Ombuds in confidence in any matter involving the exercise of the official duties of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds. (B) Exception.—The Office of the Athlete Ombuds may disclose information described in subparagraph (A) as necessary to resolve or mediate a dispute, with the permission of the parties involved.(C) Judicial and administrative proceedings.—(i) In general.—The ombudsman and the staff of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds shall not be compelled to testify or produce evidence in any judicial or administrative proceeding with respect to any matter involving the exercise of the duties of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds.(ii) Work product.—Any memorandum, work product, notes, or case file of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds—(I) shall be confidential; and(II) shall not be—(aa) subject to discovery, subpoena, or any other means of legal compulsion; or (bb) admissible as evidence in a judicial or administrative proceeding. (D) Applicability.—The confidentiality requirements under this paragraph shall not apply to information relating to—(i) applicable federally mandated reporting requirements; (ii) a felony personally witnessed by a member of the Office of the Athlete Ombuds;(iii) a situation, communicated to the Office of the Athlete Ombuds, in which an individual is at imminent risk of serious harm; or (iv) a congressional subpoena.