Athletes, Coaches, Advocates Support Launch of Clean Sport Collective
Some of America's top endurance athletes, coaches and advocates have announced their support of a new anti-doping initiative.
Fed up with doping, the dirty business practices and politics that allow it to happen and national and international federations that don’d do enough to eliminate it, a new organization launched today with a mission to clean up track and field, running, cycling, triathlon and other sports plagued by performance-enhancing drug use.
Some of America’s top distance runners, cyclists, triathletes, endurance coaches and advocates have announced their support of a new anti-doping initiative known as the Clean Sport Collective. The initiative launched Wednesday morning with an impressive online campaign that included testimonial support from numerous elite athletes, including several Olympic and World Championships medalists.
Among those onboard from the start are Jenny Simpson, Emma Coburn, Gwen Jorgensen, Kara Goucher, Alysia Montaño, Molly Huddle, Jeremy Powers, Nick Symmonds, Jesse Thomas, Sage Canaday, Stephanie Bruce, Sheila Reid, Lauren Fleshman and Sara Hall. Many leading endurance brands are also involved, including Brooks, Nuun, Oiselle, Skechers, Run Gum, Altra and Picky Bars.
I pledge that I have and always will train clean, complete clean, and live clean. Stand with me at https://t.co/6xNp7KeEwU. #cleansportco pic.twitter.com/jERHg4S4K6
— Kara Goucher (@karagoucher) November 2, 2016
Proud 2 stand w @CleanSportCO -I pledge I have & always will train clean compete clean and live clean! Support @ https://t.co/IdDSwJDx5r ! pic.twitter.com/kTUpzk9DKh
— Molly Huddle (@MollyHuddle) November 2, 2016
Molly Huddle will make her marathon debut in her home state this Sunday at the New York City Marathon.
We pledge to create positive change by supporting athletes who are committed to clean sport. Join us. https://t.co/qzYdrO9eLS #cleansportco pic.twitter.com/gnBuTp9FOy
— Picky Bars (@pickybars) November 2, 2016
Those athletes and brands have been all over social media showing their support with a temporary tattoo of the Clean Sport Collective logo.
The initiative was created by a non-profit organization based in Boulder, Colo. According to a statement on cleansport.org, the organization is intended to be a community of powerful voices comprised of athletes, brands, events, clubs, fans and the public to support the pursuit of clean sport and athletics through the absence of performance enhancing drugs.
“With the help of our partners, we will work together to bring the importance of clean sport to the general public through awareness, testing, industry advocacy and restoration,” the organization proclaimed through a release. “We want to raise awareness and positivity through the celebration and recognition of the clean athletes, events, industry and brands doing it the right way. Our mission is ‘United together for honesty, integrity and transparency in sport.'”
To join the collective, each person is asked to sign the pledge on cleansport.org that corresponds with their charter. There nine charter categories—Brands, Events, Professional Athletes, Student Athletes, Amateur Athletes, Coaches/Agents, Club Teams, Medical Professionals/Trainers, and Fans.
After just a few hours, hundreds of additional athletes, coaches, agents, brand representatives and fans have taken the pledge.
The group says it is trying to organize 1 million voices “to support the athletes who train and compete clean and give hope to future generations.” A quick check of posts linked to #cleansportco shows hundreds of athletes, coaches, fans and advocates joining the movement.
Ultrarunner, coach and race organizer Ian Sharman posted this on Twitter in support of the initiative.
I pledge that I have and will always train, compete and live clean. Stand with me at https://t.co/wbLhTOQllN #cleansportco @cleansportco pic.twitter.com/Mky8sIZUt2
— Ian Sharman (@sharmanian) November 2, 2016