Safe Environment
Team USA athletes have rights and protections related to a safe environment.
Every participant in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement plays a role and has certain obligations in creating a safe environment. The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and the U.S. Center for SafeSport are obligated to uphold a safe environment free from misconduct and abuse as outlined by the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act and the USOPC Bylaws.
The U.S. Center for SafeSport is an independent nonprofit organization responsible for responding to and preventing emotional, physical, and sexual misconduct and abuse in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.
Team USA athletes have rights and protections related to:
- Protection from retaliation for seeking assistance from the Athlete Ombuds and for reporting allegations of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse or misconduct.
- Participate in sanctioned events with qualified officials, proper medical supervision, proper safety precautions, and procedures in place to prevent and report any type of misconduct.
- Access to the following policies: NGB Code of Conduct, Athlete Safety Policy, and NGB anti-retaliation policy.
- Private arbitration if a respondent disagrees with a Center decision or notice of temporary measures.
- A hearing if NGB temporary measure denies them participation in a protected competition.
Other Information#
This information is intended to simplify and support Team USA athlete education around a complex system of rights and responsibilities within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movements. Learn more about your rights as a Team USA athlete by referring to the applicable laws or governance documents.
Temporary measures: Temporary measures are imposed or adopted on a case-by-case basis, and take all currently available information into account. Temporary Restrictions are only implemented when necessary and are narrowly tailored to mitigate the specific, potential risks posed – either to a specific individual or to the broader sport community
Retaliation: Threats, harassment, discrimination against, or any negative employment or related action (e.g. discharge, demotion, suspension, negative review) for making a good faith report or for participating in an investigation.
USOPC Responsibilities
Protection from Retaliation: Have policies and procedures in place to prohibit and report retaliation.
- Reports go to the U.S. Center for SafeSport for incidents of retaliation involving reporting allegations of emotional, physical, and sexual misconduct.
- Other reports of retaliation are reported to the USOPC Compliance department and can be reported via the Integrity Portal.
Policies and Procedures:
- Have policy and procedures in place to report allegations of child abuse to law enforcement and the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
- Have a system in place to report allegations of any kind anonymously (Integrity Portal).
- Have policies and procedures that limit one-on-one interactions between youth and adults. See the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP) (PDF).
- At a minimum, provide annual SafeSport Training to participants.
- Have a Code of Conduct (PDF) applicable to all its associated members (including Athlete Reps on the Executive Board and Committees)
- Cannot assist former employees/participants from obtaining a new job if they violated the policies of the Center related to sexual misconduct or was convicted of a crime involving sexual misconduct with a minor.
- Ensure NGBs have a policy and procedures in place to report allegations of child abuse to law enforcement and the Center and that NGBs enforce Center sanctions.
Arbitration and Hearings:
- Impose temporary measures to ensure the safety of involved parties during and after investigations.
- Enforce measures and sanctions issued by the Center.
NGB Responsibilities
Policies and Procedures:
- Have policy and procedures in place to report allegations of child abuse to law enforcement and the Center.
- Have policies and procedures in place to prohibit & report retaliation – Reports go to the Center for incidents involving reporting allegations of emotional, physical, and sexual misconduct. Other reports of retaliation are reported to Compliance and Ethics Department.
- Have policies and procedures that limit one-on-one interactions between youth and adults, per their Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP).
- At a minimum, provide annual SafeSport Training to adults who are in regular contact with minors.
- Cannot assist former employees/participants from obtaining a new job if he/she violated the policies of the Center related to sexual misconduct or was convicted of a crime involving sexual misconduct with a minor.
Arbitration and Hearings:
- Enforce measures and sanctions issued by the Center.
- Impose temporary measures to ensure the safety of involved parties during and after investigations.
U.S. Center for SafeSport Responsibilities
Policies and Procedures:
- Establish training and policy requirements for the NGBs and the USOPC
- Provide training and implement educational programs for coaches, athletes, and parents
- Have a mechanism to easily report misconduct
- Receive all sexual misconduct reports (which can be reported anonymously)
- Report all child abuse to law enforcement
- Establish oversight mechanisms, including audits of NGBs and the USOPC
- Maintain the Centralized Disciplinary Database, public database where individuals in the Movement are either subject to certain temporary restrictions pending investigation by the Center or are subject to certain sanctions after an investigation found them in violation of the Code. (See also Access to Information)
- Have policies in place that prohibit them from assisting individuals who violate sexual misconduct polices from obtaining a job
Arbitration & Hearings:
Impose temporary measures to ensure athlete safety of involved parties during and after investigations
Investigate all allegations of sexual misconduct in a fair, thorough, and neutral manner
Investigate all allegations of retaliation as it relates to the Center’s process
Issue decision if an individual did or did not violate the SafeSport Code
Sanction individuals found in violation of the SafeSport Code
- SafeSport Code
- U.S. Center for SafeSport Disciplinary Database
- USOPC Code of Conduct (PDF)
- USOPC Athlete Safety Policy (PDF)
- USOPC Speak Up Policy (PDF)
- USOPC Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (PDF)
- NGB and HPMO Athlete Safety Policy (PDF)
- USOPC Background Check Policy (PDF)
- USOPC Background Check Procedures
- U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center (OPTC) Handbook
- USOPC Suspended Individuals List