Dear U.S. Biathlon Community


We are pleased to release the athlete safety report from the independent auditors, Vestry Laight. In the report, Vestry Laight assesses our athlete safety protocols and procedures and overall team culture and provides recommendations for strengthening the team environment. Rachel Steer, chair of the Athlete Health & Safety Task Force, provides a candid and thorough letter outlining the report and recognizing the work ahead of us. We have also included a document showing progress to date on some of the recommendations and action items going forward. I would like to thank Rachel for her leadership and the committee made up of Kathy Kendrick, Brian Olsen, Sarah Konrad, and Kelsey Dickinson. While some of this report is difficult to read, it is important we process this and recognize we are always charged with becoming a better organization. 


With that in mind, Jack Gierhart, our CEO, and his team are currently taking steps for improvement. They are pursuing additional initiatives and actions based on the report. As a board we have full confidence in the USBA leadership to implement the necessary improvements and build a culture that will enable the athletes and our community to thrive.


I would like to acknowledge these staff initiatives and their ongoing dedication to our athletes, especially while on the road for months at a time. While this report stirs emotions in us all, it will help us build a better organization. I offer the Board’s support in that regard.


Sincerely,

Bob Hall

Chair, U.S. Biathlon Association Board of Directors

From Rachel Steer, Chair, Athlete Health & Safety Task Force


Dear USBA Community:


As Chair of the Athlete Health & Safety Task Force, I am pleased to share Vestry Laight’s report on safety measures for elite athletes. My takeaway is that USBA has work to do. Policies should be easier to find, reporting should be simpler, communication should be enhanced, and all athletes should feel included and safe. We may have sensed some of these things before. This report now highlights them clearly. This is a significant step. USBA will take this criticism seriously and implement appropriate measures.


After we received the report, we took time to assess its findings and develop a plan of action. It was important to us to make sure that key stakeholders (National Team athletes, staff, and leadership) had appropriate time to receive and digest these findings before it was released more broadly. Recently, President and CEO, Jack Gierhart, discussed the report with national team athletes and staff at their camp in Finland, leading to constructive work sessions on team values, expected behaviors, and a shared vision of team culture.


While I acknowledge the report’s value, a few clarifications are necessary:

  • We have redacted the name of the U.S. Center for SafeSport claimant discussed in this report due to the confidentiality rules set forth in the SafeSport Code (Article XI. Resolution Procedures, Section S. Confidentiality – Release/Use of Materials).
  • There is no doubt that SafeSport has vastly improved the focus on safety and health of athletes; however, the bureaucracy and slow pace of investigations at the Center often leave National Governing Bodies (NGBs) in an uncomfortable position. SafeSport does not communicate with NGBs during an investigation and USBA staff and coaches are expressly prohibited from contacting claimants or respondents while an investigation is in process. There are serious implications for violating the confidentiality of a claimant. When investigations drag on for months or years, it puts the organization in a terrible position, looking like they don’t care or are not advocating for their athletes.
  • Federal legislation stipulates that NGBs may not charge for a SafeSport complaint. The USBA website contains free and anonymous options for reporting on the SafeSport tab. Members also have access to the USOPC Athlete Ombudsman for free, independent, and confidential advice regarding athlete rights and resolving disputes or grievances.
  • The report includes statements and quotes that perpetuate the idea that pre-qualification criteria was changed as retaliation for a SafeSport complaint. In that situation, the criteria was published in the normal course of business as it had been previously. But more importantly, it shows that perception is reality for some athletes, and we have work to do in this regard.

I would be remiss if I did not call out the sections in the report where athletes commented on how things have already improved over the past year. My clarifications are not meant to cloud the work in front of us. Rather, I strive to ensure we stay focused on the work ahead.


USBA has already implemented many of the recommendations included in the report, including Board-approved updates to the bylaws that clarify some of the grievance process. I have attached a separate Action Plan from USBA that outlines work in progress and additional steps.


As the report states, “Revising policies and changing culture can take time to implement and see results.” I ask that you have patience with us as USBA executes this action plan. USBA will keep the Board regularly apprised of our progress and report back to our membership annually.


Thank you to the athletes, staff, and parents who took the time to share your views with Vestry Laight. We will be a better organization because of your willingness to participate in this endeavor.


Sincerely,

Rachel Steer

Chair, Athlete Health & Safety Task Force

Vice-Chair USBA Board of Directors

2002 & 2006 Olympic Team


Vestry Laight Report