Kiwi David Howman of the World Anti-Doping Agency. Photo / Herald on Sunday
New Zealand sports drugs czar David Howman will be one of the first men in the crosshairs following the formation of a global federation of players' associations.
The World Athletes Summit, at the Global Union's head office in Nyon, Switzerland, saw the creation of the international federation, an umbrella organisation charged with protecting the interests of more than 150,000 athletes around the world.
New Zealand's netball, cricket and rugby players' associations have signed up, along with organisations as diverse as the Gaelic Players' Association and Finnish Ice Hockey Player Association.
The summit was told by general-secretary of the Global Union Phil Jennings that the sport sector represented one of the worst examples of master-servant relationships.
"This is a breakthrough for athletes. The players' associations now have a united global voice and the governing sports bodies and governments will have to listen," Jennings said.
It is the International Olympic Committee and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that the newly formed body will target hardest.
Players' Associations have long believed the money and resources poured into WADA and drug testing is disproportionate to the problem (though WADA would counter the reason there are so few positive drug tests is because of the resources they have thrown at the problem).
Athletes have railed against Howman's "Whereabouts" programme, where they're required to provide information regarding their whereabouts for one hour a day, seven days a week.
World tennis No 3 Andy Murray once described the programme as draconian, which is the same word the federation used to describe the Olympic agreement athletes must sign to take part in the Games.
"It's the most draconian contract in world sport," said Heath Mills. "One of the first things it mentions is when you sign, the IOC owns your intellectual property for 18 months. You can't do anything with your property without consent of the IOC. That's a massive issue."
How the IOC distributes its revenue will be highlighted. "You go to the Olympics and they'll put the athlete in a hostel and feed them, but they won't pay them a cent. Meanwhile, with the US$6 billion they make, they'll fly all their own people in first-class and put them up at five-star hotels and have a fine old time," Mills said.
Walter Palmer, responsible for sport at Global Union, said: "There is a consensus among players that a crisis in sport governance exists ... We will engage with WADA. We will engage with the IOC and international federations over the unfair Olympic contract and we will support players worldwide with their struggle to be recognised and heard."
By Dylan Cleaver
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