Travis Tygart
Travis Tygart is an American lawyer and CEO of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, where he attended the Bolles School,[1] Tygart graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a bachelor's degree in philosophy, and in 2010 received the University’s Distinguished Young Alumni Award.[2] Tygart went on to get his J.D. from Southern Methodist University in 1999, graduating Order of the Coif.[3]
Prior to joining USADA, Tygart was an athlete and associate in the sports law practice at Holme Roberts & Owen LLP (HRO). While at HRO, Tygart worked with individual athletes and the USOC, USA Basketball, USA Swimming, USA Volleyball, and the Pro Rodeo Cowboys’ Association. Tygart is on the board of advisors of the Taylor Hooton Foundation.[4]
Tygart became Chief Executive Officer of USADA in September 2007.[5] He originally joined the agency in October 2002, and has also served as the Director of Legal Affairs and as Senior Managing Director. He has also prosecuted cases before the American Arbitration Association and the Court of Arbitration for Sport on behalf of USADA.
In June 2012, USADA accused the seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong of doping, a charge that Armstrong ceased trying to defend in August 2012.[6][7][8][9][10] Armstrong filed a suit in U.S. District Court against Tygart and USADA. When dismissing the lawsuit against 'Defendant Travis Tygart and United States Anti-Doping Agency (collectively, "USADA")', U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks wrote, "USADA's conduct raises serious questions about whether its real interest in charging Armstrong is to combat doping, or if it is acting according to less noble motives."[11] Tygart was previously involved in the investigation of Floyd Landis.[1] Tygart stated in an interview with French newspaper L'Équipe that he had received three death threats since the beginning of the Armstrong investigation and that security had been tightened around him by the FBI.[12]
After USADA announced that it would strip Armstrong of all his results obtained after August 1, 1998, Tygart stated in an interview with VeloNation: “He [Armstrong] knows all the evidence as well and he knows the truth, and so the smarter move on his part is to attempt to hide behind baseless accusations of process.”[13]
References
- 1 2 Gene Frenette (2006-08-08). "Doping's dopes need truth serum". Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
- ↑ Douglas Dibbert (2010-10-05). "Two receive Distinguished Young Alumni Awards". UNC News. News Services, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- ↑ "Board of Governors". Partnership for Clean Competition. Retrieved 2012-08-23.
- ↑ "Board of Advisors". taylorhooton.org. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
- ↑ "USADA Leadership Bios" (PDF). usada.org. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
- ↑ Lance Armstrong (2012-08-23). "Lance Armstrong's Statement of August 23, 2012". Washington Post. Retrieved 2012-08-31.
- ↑ Darren Rovell (2012-08-24). "Lance Armstrong won't fight charges". espn.com. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
- ↑ "Lance Armstrong: US Anti-Doping Agency charges 'spiteful'". 14 June 2012.
- ↑ "Armstrong statement regarding USADA Charges". Yahoo (Yahoo.com). 12 June 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
- ↑ "Armstrong facing loss of 7 Tour de France titles". Associated Press. Retrieved 2012-08-24.
- ↑ LANCE ARMSTRONG v. TRAVIS TYGART in his official capacity as Chief Executive Officer of the United States Anti–Doping Agency and UNITED STATES ANTI–DOPING AGENCY, U.S. A-12-CV-606-SS, 14 (W.D. Tex. 20 August 2012).
- ↑ Bob Williams (24 September 2012). "Travis Tygart received three death threats during Lance Armstrong investigation". Telegraph UK (Telegraph Media Group Limited 2012). Retrieved 12 October 2012.
- ↑ Shane Stokes (24 August 2012). "Travis Tygart Interview: Armstrong’s results from August 1st 1998 will be stripped". VeloNation (VeloNation LLC). Retrieved 25 August 2012.