The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced today the election of a new board member, David Plummer, an Olympian and two-time medalist who retired from the sport of swimming after competing in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics. Plummer will serve as the board’s athlete representative member in the place of the former athlete representative and retired weightlifter, Emmy Vargas.
“David personified clean sport for almost 10 years while he pursued his Olympic dreams and we couldn’t be more pleased to welcome a board member whose perspective will help us better serve clean athletes,” said USADA Board Chair Edwin C. Moses. “His insights and experience will be valuable additions to USADA’s work, both nationally and globally, to protect the integrity of sport.”
Plummer is a 14-time NCAA All-American for the University of Minnesota, as well as a four-time USA Swimming National Champion and two-time World Champion. He competed in three Olympic Trials, narrowly missing the 2012 Olympics by just .12 seconds, before successfully securing a spot in the 2016 Olympics and becoming the oldest first-time Olympian for the USA Swim Team since 1904. In Rio, he won bronze in the 100M Backstroke and gold as a member of the 400M Medley Relay. Plummer now serves as Leadership and Performance Consultant with JSA Advising and Premier Sport Psychology and has coached various youth swimming teams.
“I am very excited to join the USADA Board,” noted Plummer. “Being part of an organization that is dedicated to protecting athlete’s rights is an honor and I am humbled to be able to support the anti-doping movement. I believe it is a critical time in the continued advocacy for fair sport and the rights of athletes.”
With Plummer’s addition, USADA also commemorates Vargas’ term on the board, during which she made critical contributions to USADA’s efforts to amplify athletes’ voices and empower athlete involvement in the anti-doping movement.
Plummer, along with all members of USADA’s independent 10-person Board of Directors, are bound by USADA’s Conflict of Interest policy, and as such, cannot hold a paid or unpaid position with an Olympic sports organization.
The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) is recognized by the United States Congress as the official anti-doping organization for all Olympic, Paralympic, Pan American, and Para Pan American sport in the United States. In addition, USADA is recognized by the UFC as its official, independent anti-doping agency. USADA is dedicated to preserving the integrity of competition, inspiring true sport, and protecting the rights of athletes. Learn more at www.USADA.org.
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