FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Boston Athletic Association Update in Support of Clean Athletes
BOSTON - The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has elected to issue
voluntary payments to athletes who were adversely affected by doping
offenses at B.A.A. events.
"While the multi-step process to reclaim and redistribute prize money has
been complex and time consuming for all involved, we have worked - and
continue to work-diligently towards a resolution that supports clean
athletes while still holding all athletes accountable," said Jack Fleming,
President and CEO of the B.A.A. "Athletes will receive the prize money they
rightfully earned at our races with these payments."
The B.A.A. is identifying and contacting athletes whose results were
re-ranked due to a disqualification within prize money placings since 1986,
when prize money was first offered.
The B.A.A. is working to ensure voluntary payments are received by impacted
athletes. For any athlete whose finishing place among the prize money
positions was adversely affected by the ultimate disqualification of
another athlete, the B.A.A. will issue a voluntary payment for the
difference the athlete did not receive due to re-ranked results.
The B.A.A. continues to attempt to re-claim prize money that has been paid
out in the past. The process of identifying all affected athletes has
begun. Athletes can find additional information and apply for voluntary
payments at baa.org/prize-money-voluntary-payments.
"We are supporting athletes who competed in our events, and who believed
they would be rewarded for their top finishing place," said Fleming. "We
are doing what we can to ensure fair competition among athletes, and we
will always seek to play host to the fairest of playing fields at all of
our events."
Payments will commence in January 2025. Any athlete who believes they were
adversely affected and who has not been contacted by the B.A.A. by the end
of 2024 are encouraged to contact the B.A.A. at .
Top finishers at all B.A.A. events are tested in accordance with the
guidelines set forth by World Athletics, USA Track and Field, the World
Anti-Doping Agency, the United States Anti-Doping Agency, and the Athletes
Integrity Unit.
If an athlete has ever been sanctioned for anti-doping offenses (before,
during, or after the re-ranking of B.A.A. event results) then they are not
eligible to receive any voluntary payment. If an athlete who is provided
with a voluntary payment is later disqualified, the B.A.A. will seek to
recoup the payment.
ABOUT THE BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (B.A.A.)
Established in 1887, the Boston Athletic Association is a non-profit
organization with a mission of promoting a healthy lifestyle through
sports, especially running. The B.A.A. manages the Boston Marathon, and
supports comprehensive charity, youth, and year-round programming. The
129th Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America is scheduled to take
place on Monday, April 21, 2025. The Boston Marathon is part of the Abbott
World Marathon Majors, along with international marathons in Tokyo, London,
Berlin, Chicago, and New York City. For more information on the B.A.A.,
please visit www.baa.org.
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