The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) has elected to issue voluntary payments to athletes who were adversely affected by doping offenses at B.A.A. events.

“While the multi-step process to reclaim and redistribute prize money has been complex and time consuming for all involved, we have worked – and continue to work—diligently towards a resolution that supports clean athletes while still holding all athletes accountable,” said Jack Fleming, President and CEO of the B.A.A. “Athletes will receive the prize money they rightfully earned at our races with these payments.”

INFORMATION FOR ATHLETES

The B.A.A. is identifying and contacting athletes whose results were re-ranked due to a disqualification within prize money placings since 1986, when prize money was first offered. If you are an athlete due a voluntary repayment, please complete the following form.

 

The B.A.A. is working to ensure voluntary payments are received by impacted athletes. For any athlete whose finishing place among the prize money positions was adversely affected by the ultimate disqualification of another athlete, the B.A.A. will issue a voluntary payment for the difference the athlete did not receive due to re-ranked results.

The B.A.A. seeks to identify and contact athletes whose results were re-ranked due to a disqualification within prize money placings since 1986, when prize money was first offered at B.A.A. events.

Payments will commence in January 2025. Any athlete who believes they were adversely affected and who has not been contacted by the B.A.A. by the end of 2024 are encouraged to contact the B.A.A. at voluntarypayments@baa.org.

VOLUNTARY PAYMENT PARAMETERS (1986-2024)

• The B.A.A. will seek to identify and make contact with all athletes who competed between 1986 and 2024 and were re-ranked due to a nullification of results. 
• Payments will be directed only to the athlete who competed. Payments will be calculated as the difference between the cash prize value paid to the athlete (including cash bonuses for any placement records, but not including the value of any medals or trophies), and the gross prize value the athlete should have earned for the adjusted placement.
• The voluntary payment will not be adjusted for inflation or interest. The prize schedules in place at the time of the athlete’s competition will be used for calculating the additional voluntary amount paid by the B.A.A.
• The retroactive voluntary payments will be taxed in accordance with IRS regulations based on the athlete’s tax status. The B.A.A. will collect IRS Forms W9 or W8 prior to issuing voluntary payments, and withhold proper amounts from the gross prize value. Athletes are responsible for reporting the voluntary payments in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.
• If an athlete has ever been sanctioned for anti-doping offenses (before, during, or after the re-ranking of B.A.A. event results) then they are not eligible to receive any payment adjustment. If an athlete who is provided with an adjusted payment is later disqualified, the B.A.A. will seek to recoup funds.

VOLUNTARY PAYMENT PARAMETERS (Starting in 2025)

• Athletes must fill out this form and apply within six months of a re-ranking/disqualification to receive their voluntary payment.
• The B.A.A. will only make repayments if the re-ranking takes place within five years of the affected race date. 
• Please email the B.A.A. at voluntarypayments@baa.org with any questions.

OTHER CONDITIONS

The issuance of a voluntary payment by the B.A.A. is in the interest of acknowledging rightful prize earners and supporting professional athletes. Any issuance of voluntary payments by the B.A.A. shall not constitute or imply an admission of wrongdoing, liability, or obligation of the B.A.A. now or at any point in the future. By accepting a voluntary payment, athletes agree to full release of the B.A.A. and acknowledge and agree that the B.A.A. has no obligation to provide any other form of payment, compensation, or award of any kind to the athlete.

The B.A.A. reserves the right to revise, amend, rescind, or terminate at any time its approach to nullifications, including the provision of voluntary payments.

ANTI-DOPING EFFORTS AT B.A.A. EVENTS

Top finishers at all B.A.A. events are tested in accordance with the guidelines set forth by World Athletics, USA Track and Field, the World Anti-Doping Agency, the United States Anti-Doping Agency, and the Athletes Integrity Unit.

If an athlete has ever been sanctioned for anti-doping offenses (before, during, or after the re-ranking of B.A.A. event results) then they are not eligible to receive any voluntary payment. If an athlete who is provided with a voluntary payment is later disqualified, the B.A.A. will seek to recoup the payment.