Brett Clothier Appointed as First Head of Athletics Integrity Unit

The IAAF is pleased to announce the appointment of Brett Clothier as the first Head of the independent Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).

Following the IAAF Council’s approval of a new Integrity Code of Conduct, IAAF President Sebastian Coe officially launched the AIU at the beginning of April, announcing David Howman as Chairperson of the AIU’s Board. His fellow Board Members, Abby Hoffman, Dr Andrew Pipe and Marc Peltier were approved by Council on 12 April.

The fifth and final member of the Board, Brett Clothier is one of Australia’s leading sport integrity professionals. He established and led the Australian Football League (AFL)’s Integrity Unit for more than eight years, positioning the AFL as one of the first organisations worldwide to monitor doping alongside match-fixing and other integrity issues. Prior to his role at the AFL, Clothier spent four years as legal counsel to the Integrity Services Department of Racing Victoria.

Commenting on his appointment Brett Clothier said: "Athletics is one of the few genuinely global sports. Through the AIU it has an unparalleled opportunity to demonstrate leadership on integrity issues and to share those with other sports and federations. I am excited by the opportunity I have been given to lead the AIU in rebuilding athlete and fan confidence in how we manage threats to the sport. I look forward to working with athletes and all members of the athletics community."

IAAF President Sebastian Coe commented: "The Athletics Integrity Unit sits at the epicenter of the IAAF’s integrity reforms and today’s announcement is the final brick in athletics’ robust wall of ethical defenses. The AIU Board’s appointment of Brett Clothier completes an impressive line-up of world renowned talent in the field of sport integrity who will be the guardians of athletics’ ethics. The unit, which has been built for athletes so that they have the necessary information and support to make the right choices in their careers, is about restoring trust in competition. Brett’s experience will be a huge asset to the AIU in safeguarding our sport’s ethical credibility and I wish him and his team the very best for their vital work."

The Chairperson of the AIU Board, David Howman, commented: "The AIU Board conducted a very thorough search process for its first Head, and we are delighted to have attracted someone of Brett’s caliber. His track record of establishing and driving forward the AFL Integrity Unit from scratch eight years ago speaks for itself, and means he is the ideal person to lead the AIU’s athlete-centred programs during this crucial period for our sport."

Starting ahead of the IAAF World Championships in London, Clothier will be responsible for the operations of the Unit, and for overseeing the Unit’s core activities which include: testing; intelligence and investigations; compliance; case management and education. Current Interim Head of the AIU, Thomas Capdevielle, will resume his duties as Head of Testing and Deputy Head of the AIU.

The AIU is responsible for combatting any and all threats to the integrity of the sport. It has replaced the IAAF’s former anti-doping department, the responsibility for the management of all aspects of the anti-doping programme for international-level athletes and their athlete support personnel as well as for the management of all other integrity-related programmes operated in elite athletics. This includes bribery and corruption, betting, the manipulation of competition results, age manipulation and misconduct around transfers of allegiance.

Disciplinary Tribunal

The IAAF is also pleased to announce the appointment of Britain’s Michael Beloff QC as the inaugural Chair of the Disciplinary Tribunal. He is joined by five other members Catherine O’Regan (RSA), Annabel Pennefather (SGP), Thomas Murray (USA), Tafsir Malick N’Diaye (SEN) and Lauri Tarasti (FIN), with more appointments expected in due course.

The newly formed and independent Disciplinary Tribunal takes on the functions of the IAAF Ethics Board in respect of any new ethical matters arising since the beginning of 2017. Under the Integrity Code of Conduct, the Tribunal will hear and decide all breaches and has the power to impose sanctions. All decisions will be able to be appealed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

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