U.S. CODE

U.S. Code

§ 220509. Resolution of disputes

(a) General.— The corporation shall establish and maintain provisions in its constitution and bylaws for the swift and equitable resolution of disputes involving any of its members and relating to the opportunity of an amateur athlete, coach, trainer, manager, administrator, or official to participate in the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games, the Pan-American Games, world championship competition, or other protected competition as defined in the constitution and bylaws of the corporation. In any lawsuit relating to the resolution of a dispute involving the opportunity of an amateur athlete to participate in the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games, or the Pan-American Games, a court shall not grant injunctive relief against the corporation within 21 days before the beginning of such games if the corporation, after consultation with the chair of the Athletes’ Advisory Council, has provided a sworn statement in writing executed by an officer of the corporation to such court that its constitution and bylaws cannot provide for the resolution of such dispute prior to the beginning of such games.

(b) Ombudsman.—

(1) The corporation shall hire and provide salary, benefits, and administrative expenses for an ombudsman for athletes, who shall—

(A) provide independent advice to athletes at no cost about the applicable provisions of this chapter and the constitution and bylaws of the corporation, national governing bodies, paralympic sports organizations, international sports federations, the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, and the Pan-American Sports Organization, and with respect to the resolution of any dispute involving the opportunity of an amateur athlete to participate in the Olympic Games, the Paralympic Games, the Pan-American Games, world championship competition or other protected competition as defined in the constitution and bylaws of the corporation;

(B) assist in mediating any such disputes; and

(2)

(A) The procedure for hiring the ombudsman for athletes shall be as follows:

(i) The Athletes’ Advisory Council shall provide the corporation’s executive director with the name of one qualified person to serve as ombudsman for athletes.

(ii) The corporation’s executive director shall immediately transmit the name of such person to the corporation’s executive committee.

(iii) The corporation’s executive committee shall hire or not hire such person after fully considering the advice and counsel of the Athletes’ Advisory Council.

If there is a vacancy in the position of the ombudsman for athletes, the nomination and hiring procedure set forth in this paragraph shall be followed in a timely manner.

(B) The corporation may terminate the employment of an individual serving as ombudsman for athletes only if—

(i) the termination is carried out in accordance with the applicable policies and procedures of the corporation;

(ii) the termination is initially recommended to the corporation’s executive committee by either the corporation’s executive director or by the Athletes’ Advisory Council; and

(iii) the corporation’s executive committee fully considers the advice and counsel of the Athletes’ Advisory Council prior to deciding whether or not to terminate the employment of such individual.

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