An anti-doping agency Wednesday announced that it aims to raise $100,000 of financial assistance to help athletes — including those in the Southland — who have lost their source of income due to coronavirus-related sports bans.
Banned Substances Control Group, an international third-party certification and testing provider, recently joined forces with Support Clean Sport, a grassroots clean-sport initiative of public charity Anti-Doping Research, to financially support athletes who make their living competing in sports.
“Sport has taken a big hit as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and many athletes who rely on sport for their livelihoods are suffering,” said Oliver Catlin, BSCG president and executive director of Support Clean Sport. “Realizing the financial fallout this disease has wreaked on the lives of many people including amateur and Olympic athletes, we wanted to step up and lend a hand.”
The organizations point out that amateur athletes are the lifeblood of the Olympics, and that little or no auxiliary income from competition has adversely affected them.
In addition to the negative health effects of the disease itself, officials worry that athletes who need to maintain their physical condition might be tempted to rely on banned substances, particularly as gyms and health clubs closed as nonessential businesses will be among the last to reopen.
The BSCG-backed campaign Aid for Athletes from Support Clean Sport donated $5,000 and intends to raise $100,000 to be delivered in $1,000 payments to 100 athletes who meet certain criteria. The initial focus will be on athletes living and training in the United States. BSCG is working with sporting groups like USA CRITS to help identify those athletes who require assistance.
Athletes can email info@supportcleansport.com to apply for aid. All inquiries will be kept confidential.
Contributions of any amount are tax-deductible and can be made at GoFundMe Charity. Contributors will be offered an official seal, which can be shared online to display support.