{{Short description|American lawyer}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Travis Tygart | image = Travis Tygart.jpg | caption = Tygart in 2017 | birth_name = Travis Thompson Tygart | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1971}} | birth_place = Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | organization = United States Anti-Doping Agency | known_for = Exposing the Lance Armstrong doping operation | education = {{unbulleted list|University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (BA)|Southern Methodist University (JD)}} }} '''Travis Thompson Tygart''' (born 1971<ref name=Macur>{{cite book|last=Macur|first=Juliet|title=Cycle of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong|publisher=HarperCollins|date=2014|isbn=978-0-06-227722-0|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780062277220}}</ref>) is an American lawyer and CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). He is best known for his role in exposing Lance Armstrong's massive doping operation.
== Life and career ==
A native of Jacksonville, Florida, he attended the Bolles School,<ref name="Times-Union">{{cite news|title=Doping's dopes need truth serum|url=http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/080806/spf_4294572.shtml|date=August 8, 2006|author=Gene Frenette|access-date=August 24, 2012|newspaper=The Florida Times-Union|archive-date=February 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222173412/http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/080806/spf_4294572.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> He starred on the baseball and basketball teams; on the former, one of his teammates was future Atlanta Braves star Chipper Jones.<ref name=Macur /> He 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/3972/107/|title=Two receive Distinguished Young Alumni Awards|date=October 5, 2010|author=Douglas Dibbert|publisher=News Services, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill|work=UNC News|access-date=August 24, 2012|archive-date=February 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214222837/http://uncnews.unc.edu/content/view/3972/107/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Tygart went on to get his J.D. from Southern Methodist University in 1999, graduating Order of the Coif.<ref name="PCC">{{cite web|url=http://www.cleancompetition.org/board-of-governors/travis-tygart.aspx|title=Board of Governors|publisher=Partnership for Clean Competition|access-date=August 23, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827024339/http://www.cleancompetition.org/board-of-governors/travis-tygart.aspx|archive-date=August 27, 2012}}</ref>
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 United States Olympic Committee, USA Basketball, USA Swimming, USA Volleyball, and the Pro Rodeo Cowboys' Association. Tygart is on the board of advisors of the Taylor Hooton Foundation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Board of Advisors|access-date=August 24, 2012|publisher=taylorhooton.org|url=http://taylorhooton.org/board-of-advisors/|archive-date=June 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626111044/http://taylorhooton.org/board-of-advisors/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Tygart became Chief Executive Officer of USADA in September 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usada.org/files/pdfs/bios-usada-leadership.pdf|access-date=August 24, 2012|publisher=usada.org|title=USADA Leadership Bios|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504131036/http://www.usada.org/files/pdfs/bios-usada-leadership.pdf|archive-date=May 4, 2012}}</ref> He originally joined the agency in October 2002 as director of legal affairs, later becoming senior managing director and general counsel. He has also prosecuted cases before the American Arbitration Association and the Court of Arbitration for Sport on behalf of USADA.
== Role in Armstrong doping case == {{Main|Lance Armstrong doping case}} Tygart had harbored suspicions about Armstrong for most of his tenure at USADA. A number of former members of Armstrong's U.S. Postal Service Pro Cycling Team had been caught doping. Having learned about the doping that then ran rampant in the sport, Tygart found it hard to believe that Armstrong was clean.<ref name=Macur />
In June 2012, USADA accused Armstrong of doping, a charge that Armstrong ceased trying to defend in August 2012. As a result, he was stripped of all results from August 1, 1998, onward–including his seven consecutive Tour titles–and banned for life from all sports whose federations followed the World Anti-Doping Code. The latter sanction had the effect of ending his competitive career.<ref>{{cite news|author=Lance Armstrong|access-date=August 31, 2012|date=August 23, 2012|title=Lance Armstrong's Statement of August 23, 2012|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/armstrong-statement.html|newspaper=Washington Post|archive-date=October 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011035814/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/armstrong-statement.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Darren Rovell|access-date=August 24, 2012|date=August 24, 2012|title=Lance Armstrong won't fight charges|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/cycling/story/_/id/8298135/usada-ban-lance-armstrong-life-strip-seven-tour-de-france-titles-charges-used-performance-enhancing-drugs-cycling-career|work=espn.com|archive-date=August 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824084209/http://espn.go.com/olympics/cycling/story/_/id/8298135/usada-ban-lance-armstrong-life-strip-seven-tour-de-france-titles-charges-used-performance-enhancing-drugs-cycling-career|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/18435771|title=Lance Armstrong: US Anti-Doping Agency charges 'spiteful'|date=June 14, 2012|access-date=May 26, 2024|work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/13062012/2/statement-lance-armstrong.html|title=Armstrong statement regarding USADA Charges|work=Yahoo!|publisher=Yahoo.com|date=June 12, 2012|access-date=June 12, 2012|archive-date=June 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626051528/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/13062012/2/statement-lance-armstrong.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Jim|last=Vertuno|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jdzXqWhHgbSdIMlsP-ShNMMt8wmg?docId=c406be026e274cf58adfbf26d4ec868e|date=August 24, 2012|access-date=August 24, 2012|publisher=Associated Press|title=Armstrong facing loss of 7 Tour de France titles|archive-date=August 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827023645/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jdzXqWhHgbSdIMlsP-ShNMMt8wmg?docId=c406be026e274cf58adfbf26d4ec868e|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite court|litigants=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|reporter=U.S.|opinion=A-12-CV-606-SS|pinpoint=14|court=W.D. Tex.|date=August 20, 2012|url=http://www.txwd.uscourts.gov/opinions/cases/Armstrong_USA_A12CV606SS.pdf|access-date=August 29, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019001417/http://www.txwd.uscourts.gov/opinions/cases/Armstrong_USA_A12CV606SS.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Tygart was previously involved in the investigation of Floyd Landis.<ref name="Times-Union" /> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/lancearmstrong/9562771/Travis-Tygart-received-three-death-threats-during-Lance-Armstrong-investigation.html|title=Travis Tygart received three death threats during Lance Armstrong investigation|work=The Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited 2012|date=September 24, 2012|access-date=October 12, 2012|author=Bob Williams|archive-date=October 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011153710/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/lancearmstrong/9562771/Travis-Tygart-received-three-death-threats-during-Lance-Armstrong-investigation.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
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."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12712/Travis-Tygart-Interview-Armstrongs-results-from-August-1st-1998-will-be-stripped.aspx|title=Travis Tygart Interview: Armstrong's results from August 1st 1998 will be stripped|work=VeloNation|publisher=VeloNation LLC|date=August 24, 2012|access-date=August 25, 2012|author=Shane Stokes|archive-date=August 27, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120827022831/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/12712/Travis-Tygart-Interview-Armstrongs-results-from-August-1st-1998-will-be-stripped.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
== U.S. Helsinki Commission testimony == In July 2018, Tygart testified before the U.S. Helsinki Commission in Washington, DC on the subject of doping in sports. He was on a panel alongside Jim Walden, the attorney for Russian Whistle-blower Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov, Yuliya Stepanova, a former Russian track star turned whistleblower, and Katie Uhlaender, a four-time member of the U.S. Skeleton team.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/ct-spt-vladimir-putin-russia-doping-scandal-20180725-story.html|title=Hearing points to Vladimir Putin's role in Russian doping scandal|last=Nuckols|first=Ben|work=Chicago Tribune|date=July 25, 2018|access-date=July 27, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=July 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727130543/http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/ct-spt-vladimir-putin-russia-doping-scandal-20180725-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Tygart submitted eight pages of testimony<ref>{{cite web|author=Travis Tygart|url=https://www.usada.org/wp-content/uploads/Helsinki-Commission-Written-Testimony-Travis-Tygart.pdf|publisher=usada.org|title=Helenski Commission Written Testimony|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727181253/https://www.usada.org/wp-content/uploads/Helsinki-Commission-Written-Testimony-Travis-Tygart.pdf|date=July 27, 2018|archive-date=July 27, 2018|access-date=July 27, 2018}}</ref> and told the Commission he would continue attempting to persuade Congress to address international doping.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/hearing-points-to-putins-role-in-russian-doping-scandal-ap_sports6bc6805ca91548dbbf22501ed9f0fe37|title=Hearing points to Putin's role in Russian doping scandal|date=July 25, 2018|access-date=July 27, 2018|archive-date=July 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727152929/https://www.tampabay.com/hearing-points-to-putins-role-in-russian-doping-scandal-ap_sports6bc6805ca91548dbbf22501ed9f0fe37|work=Tampa Bay Times|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== 2022 Russian doping controversy == On March 9, 2022, Tygart reported that Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, who was reported for doping violation at the 2022 Olympics, had not requested that her "B" sample be tested, apparently accepting the results of initial testing and relying on her explanation that the banned substance TMZ belonged to her grandfather and only accidentally contaminated or became mixed into her own use of allowed nutrients and supplements. Tygart further stated that as a minor Valieva could still be either fully exculpated or given a warning concerning her testing positive depending on the extent of findings in the on-going RUSADA investigation of doping. According to Tygart, an adverse finding against her as a first offense could still be assessed as a two year suspension, which is half of the suspension time which could be assessed for adults.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q52SeSRjB1E|title=Interview with Travis Tygart (USADA, Kamila Valieva Doping, Russian Doping)|publisher=The Skating Lesson via YouTube|date=March 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813211646/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q52SeSRjB1E|archive-date=August 13, 2022|access-date=August 14, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
== WADA controversy == {{Further|World Anti-Doping Agency#Chinese doping allegations and subsequent conflict with USADA|Concerns and controversies at the 2024 Summer Olympics#Chinese doping allegations|Concerns and controversies at the 2024 Summer Olympics#American doping allegations}} In 2024 Tygart was engaged in a drawn-out dispute with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) due to various doping allegations and their investigation.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Keating |first1=Steve |title=Athletes undercover? Global and U.S. anti-doping agencies clash over tactics |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/athletes-undercover-global-us-anti-doping-agencies-clash-over-tactics-2024-08-07/ |agency=Reuters |date=August 7, 2024}}</ref>
== In other media == * In the 2015 film ''The Program'', he is portrayed by actor John Schwab.
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.usantidoping.org/|United States Anti-Doping Agency official website}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tygart, Travis}} Category:Living people Category:American lawyers Category:Drugs in sport in the United States Category:Bolles School alumni Category:Lawyers from Jacksonville, Florida Category:1971 births