USA Weightlifting 1 Olympic Plaza

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receiving it from Mr. Rick Adams together with several follow ups from Mr. Adams on its completion. It was tested by the 2017 Baker Tilly audit on the matter.

At the same time, USA Weightlifting instituted additional requirements for USA Weightlifting members, as well as a specific USA Weightlifting Sports Medicine Policy. We continue to add to this policy as we identify new opportunities. In January 2018, we made an addendum to our technical rules to require the weigh in within a singlet for those aged 17 or under, and give the option to those athletes aged 18 or over. Copies of all relevant documents are attached.

2. USA Weightlifting has exclusively used US Olympic Committee training resources, first made available to the best of my knowledge in 2013 regarding SafeSport. In 2016, we made a policy that individuals would not be able to attend a Championship as a coach without this education. In 2017, we extended this to a much wider population as detailed in the attached member requirements document. Prior to these requirements the education was recommended by not required. Prior to the US Olympic Committee providing these resources, USA Weightlifting did not, to my knowledge and the knowledge of those consulted in drafting this letter.

3. Regarding this guidance, since it was provided to all National Governing Bodies by the US Center for SafeSport, I would advise the Committee to seek copies from the US Center for SafeSport. However, I am happy to confirm all guidance provided by the US Center for SafeSport has been followed.

4. The US Olympic Committee did require in 2008-2009 that USA Weightlifting change the governance model of the National Governing Body, with an implied threat of de-certification as a National Governing Body if we did not comply with the request of the US Olympic Committee. It is understood that this was to proactively change the method of governance of the organization rather than any implied infraction by USA Weightlifting ethically or around sexual abuse.

a. In 2017, as described above, the US Olympic Committee did require that NGBs, inclusive of USA Weightlifting, recognize the US Center for SafeSport in their bylaws. This work was completed in June 2017, and tested in the US Olympic Committee’s external audit by Baker Tilly shortly after completion.

5. As stated above, records are not complete for our NGB from the entire time period citied by the Committee. However, I can give an outline of cases that we are aware of. For clarity, due to the lack of records this may or may not constitute every complaint raised to the NGB during the period 2005 to present. I have attached the data as an appendix to this response.

6. Yes, our NGB does maintain a combined public list of sanctioned individuals where those sanctions are finalized and not under arbitration. That can be navigated to under both the Anti-Doping and SafeSport headings for the NGB’s website. The web address for said listing is here: https://www.teamusa.org/usa-weightlifting/membership/sanctioned-members

a. The list began to be published in 2016, at the request of our Board of Directors.

b. Any finalized ban instituted by our Judicial Committee, the US Center for SafeSport and/or the US Anti-Doping Agency results in the listing of the individual on the above sanctioned members listing. They remain present for the entire duration of the sanction, including any tolled sanction due to retirement.

c. Our list was first made public in 2016.

d. The list is updated, as described above, upon the finalization of any sanction by any of the above bodies.

USA Weightlifting 1 Olympic Plaza

Colorado Springs, CO 80909 Tel: (719) 866-4508 Tel: (719) 866-4741

USAWeightlifting.org

e. We currently have 3 individuals who are listed in the area of SafeSport issues, or Sexual Abuse. Of these, one is a sanction implemented by the US Center for SafeSport, and

two are historical lifetime bans implemented by our NGB.

7. At this time, we do not keep records of non-members who are ineligible to participate or be involved with our NGB. However, in the most common occurrence of this which is accompanying a national team, we do according to our 2018 selection procedure perform a background check on all members of the delegation. A record, however, is available at the US Center for SafeSport website for those who have sanctions currently enacted the center, or those enacted by NGBs prior to the opening of the Center.

a. N/A.

8. While not a formalized or written policy, it has always been the understanding of the NGB to inform the US Olympic Committee when a complaint or allegation is raised against an individual in our membership. However, this has ceased to be the case since the US Center for SafeSport opened in 2017, where all sexual abuse cases are referred to the US Center for SafeSport.

9. The USOC has referred one complaint or allegation to our NGB, in 2015 regarding sexual harassment. In this instance, the allegation concerned the ability of an individual to access the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The investigation was carried out by the US Olympic Committee and the individual was eventually cleared to participate.

10. In our 2013-2017 policy, interim measures for allegation around SafeSport were compulsory for our National Governing Body. However, we never had cause to use these measures during that period. Since 2017 we have referred and deferred interim measures to the US Center for SafeSport. Prior to 2013, our ethics code did include sexual abuse, and there was through our Judicial Committee the ability to take interim measures (subject to a hearing) against a given individual through that code. However, to my knowledge and the knowledge of those consulted, such action was not taken in any case.

11. Yes, since 2018, USA Weightlifting has extended background checks to any member of an international team delegation, inclusive of athletes. Prior to 2018, these were not required for parents or athletes traveling with Team USA. However, coaches have had a required background check since 2009.

a. Please see attached 2018 Selection Procedure for USA Weightlifting.

b. Our selection procedure attached, allows our selection committee voting unanimously, to remove an athlete from the delegation in the case that the health and safety of any other athlete on the team is compromised. In making their decision, the selection committee may consult professional advice on the matter from any relevant source. Full details is orated in the attached selection procedure. Aside from athletes, any other individual is not permitted to travel if they do not pass the background check.

12. A copy of our report from the 2017 USOC SafeSport Audit conduct by Baker Tilly is attached. Relevant action on the recommendations was taken to the satisfaction of the USOC Audit department.

13. We have not, to my knowledge and the knowledge of those consulted, singed any Non-Disclosure Agreements with any athlete member for any reason since 2005.

14. Please see attached our 2018 budget. This is also available publicly via our website. Our financials page is updated quarterly for all members to see. Additionally, historic 990 forms and audit copies are also available online. I have also included our external audit for 2016 and 990 for 2016.

15. USA Weightlifting has received very minimal funding since 2013, primarily in the form of Value-In-Kind at the Olympic Training Center from 2013-2017. I am less able to comment on