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Retirement Responsibilities
Retirement
For USADA purposes, any athlete who retires must promptly inform USADA and his/her respective NGB, in writing through fax, courier, or e-mail. If an athlete sends the retirement statement via e-mail, the retirement statement must come from an e-mail address that is on file with USADA. If a USA Swimming or USA Track and Field athlete wishes to retire, he/she must first contact his/her NGB as those sports require specific forms to be completed.
It is very important for the athlete to check with his/her respective International Federation (IF) for its policy on retirement. Under the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) National Anti-Doping Policies, any athlete who has not provided advance written notice of retirement to USADA and then refuses to participate in a USADA Out-of Competition (OOC) test claiming retirement will be subject to an anti-doping rule violation.
If an athlete retires, he/she is immediately removed from the USADA Registered Testing Pool (RTP) and will no longer have to comply with certain athlete requirements such as providing whereabouts information. To confirm retirement, an athlete will receive a retirement letter from USADA stating the date of retirement, withdrawal from retirement information and return from retirement options should an athlete wish to return to competition at a later date.
Return from Retirement
In accordance with the USOC National Anti-Doping Policies, if an athlete wants to come out of retirement and return to eligible status, he/she must enroll in the USADA RTP for at least six (6) months in advance of any participating in any Competition or Event sanctioned or organized by the USOC, any national or regional championship sanctioned by an NGB or any other member of the USOC or who wishes to participate on any team organized or nominated by the USOC, or any International Event. To re-enroll in the USADA RTP, an athlete must send a return from retirement statement through courier, fax, or e-mail to USADA. If an athlete sends the return from retirement statement via e-mail, the statement must come from an e-mail address that is on file with USADA. If a USA Swimming or USA Track and Field athlete wishes to return from retirement, he/she must first contact his/her NGB as those sports require specific forms to return from retirement.
Pursuant to the USOC National Anti-Doping Policies, all Athletes or other Persons who are candidates for membership on the U.S. Olympic or Paralympic teams must be enrolled in the USADA RTP for a period up to twelve (12) months before the commencement of the competition. Additionally, an athlete should confirm whether his/her particular IF has additional requirements in order for him/her to regain eligibility after retirement. All athletes returning from retirement will be treated as a new athlete to the USADA RTP and will be notified by USADA in accordance with the USOC National Anti-Doping Policies.
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