The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) is pleased to announce the implementation of its new strategic plan, which will guide the organization’s goals and priorities through 2029.
“We are excited to launch our Game Plan 2029 and continue to work hard every day to deliver on the promise of fair sport to athletes. Also, as the U.S. prepares to host major sporting events in the coming years, this strategic plan will ensure that USADA is prepared to provide gold standard anti-doping services and support for these exciting international events,” said USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart.
Game Plan 2029 presents a re-envisioned mission statement for the organization and identifies USADA’s ongoing objectives, as well as goals and strategies specific to the 2025-2029 timeframe.
In its new mission statement, USADA once again places athletes at the center, stating: “We champion athletes to achieve their dreams in a fair and healthy way and to inspire the world.”
The organization’s core values reinforce this mission, as well as USADA’s commitment to holding itself to the same high standards of excellence exhibited by athletes who fully embrace true sport:
- Promote Integrity – Ethics and honesty are the foundation for every decision and action. We preserve and enhance the value of sport through prevention, detection, deterrence, and seeking justice for athletes harmed by unfair practices.
- Lead with Courage – We boldly accept our duty and do what is necessary to protect clean athletes and the integrity of sport even when difficult or unpopular.
- Build Trust and Teamwork – We are consistent, reliable, and unwavering in our commitment to a fair and transparent sport culture, fostering a community working in partnership to ensure a level playing field for all.
- Inspire Respect & Responsibility – Cultivate passion for fairness, justice, and respect for one another and the rules of the game. Enthusiastically serve others and ourselves in a spirit of cooperation, collaboration, and accountability.
USADA’s ongoing goals and commitments, or core principles, also continue a legacy of service to athletes and clean sport. The core principles identified in Game Plan 2029 center around the themes of advocacy and leadership on behalf of athletes, prevention of doping through education and community engagement, science and innovation to support anti-doping detection and deterrence, and organizational excellence to ensure optimal service.
To read the USADA Game Plan 2029 in full, click here.
As USADA rolls out its next Game Plan, it also welcomes new appointments to its Board of Directors. With the completion of Dr. Tobie Smith’s tenure as Chair of the board, track and field Olympian and 1984 Olympic silver medalist in the 400m hurdles, Dr. Judi Brown Clarke will become Chair and cede the Vice Chair position to two-time track and field Olympian and bronze medalist Kara Goucher.
“We couldn’t be more grateful for Dr. Smith’s seven years of service to the USADA Board, during which time she brought her insight as a long-time elite athlete and her expertise as a physician to help ensure that we prioritize athlete wellbeing every step of the way,” said USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart. “We also continue our long legacy of athlete leadership with Dr. Brown Clarke’s appointment as board Chair. The board’s unanimous approval of her appointment speaks volumes of her exceptional contributions to the board over the last five years.”
“I am honored to be appointed as the new Chair of the Board,” said Dr. Brown Clarke. “My deep passion for clean sport and athlete protection drives me in this role. Throughout my career in athletics, I have come to understand that a level playing field is essential for all competitors. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work with USADA and its board of directors to advance our mission of ensuring that athletes can compete clean and achieve victory based solely on their abilities.”
With these changes, USADA also welcomes a new board member, Stephen Starks, an experienced attorney, arbitrator, and mediator. Starks currently serves as the Vice President of Legal Affairs – Concerts for Live Nation Entertainment and possesses a deep understanding of the anti-doping landscape, having spent more than five years prosecuting anti-doping cases as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and New Era ADR. He was also an independent observer for the World Anti-Doping Agency at a major games, conducted results management training for other anti-doping organizations, and served as Legal Affairs Director at USADA for several years. Prior to starting his legal career, Starks was a longtime athlete and a four-year member of a Division I men’s basketball team.
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