Sport Integrity Policy

Updated: July 1, 2026

1. Purpose

Integrity is fundamental to the credibility, fairness, and sustainability of sport. USA Cycling is committed to upholding the principles of honesty, ethical conduct, and fair competition, ensuring that all participants engage in sport in a manner that maintains public confidence and respect, and consistent with the IOC Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions and the IPC Code of Ethics (as applicable). This policy recognizes the increasing risks to sporting integrity, including corruption, match-fixing, misuse of insider information, and other inappropriate involvement in sports betting. Such behaviors threaten the core values of sport and undermine the safety, welfare, and reputation of athletes, officials, organizations, and competitions. 

This policy provides a framework for identifying, mitigating, and responding to integrity threats; outlines USA Cycling's expectations, responsibilities, and prohibited conduct for all participants; and supports education, monitoring, and enforcement measures to protect the sport from improper influence. This policy does not attempt to provide an exhaustive list of every possible circumstance in which an integrity threat may occur. Instead, by promoting awareness, accountability, and transparency, this policy aims to safeguard fair competition, protect participants from harm, and preserve the trust of fans, stakeholders, and the broader sporting community.

 

2. Applicability of Policy

This Sport Integrity Policy is applicable to all USA Cycling Covered Individuals. Where reasonable and relevant, USA Cycling contractors will be required to comply with this policy in their contracts.

 

3. Definitions

“Applicable Competition” refers to any race, event, or activity in which USA Cycling selects athletes, teams, or staff to participate; any competition where the USOPC officially designates entrants; and any USA Cycling-sanctioned national championship, trials, or qualification event for a Protected Competition (as defined in the USOPC Bylaws). Applicable Competitions include, but are not limited to, the: Olympic and Paralympic Games; Pan American and Parapan American Games; World Championships and other major international competitions where individual and/or team selection is made by USA Cycling; and National Championships and trials that serve as qualification events for Protected Competitions.

“Covered Athletes” means only athletes who: (a) have qualified for or been designated by USA Cycling as National Team athletes; or (b) have been selected by USA Cycling to represent the United States or USA Cycling in international competition.

“Covered Individuals” means USA Cycling employees, members of USA Cycling’s Board of Directors, committee or task force members with access to Inside Information including members of the Athlete Advisory Council and Selection Committees, Covered Athletes, and USA Cycling Sport Performance staff and support personnel acting in connection with USA Cycling Sport Performance activities.

“Inside Information” includes any non-public information that could affect competition outcomes or be used for betting purposes. Examples of Inside Information include, but are not limited to, non-public injury or health information; team selection decisions prior to public announcement; competition strategies or tactics; and training or coaching details.

“Sports Betting” or “Sports Wagering” includes betting; attempting to bet; or offering, agreeing, soliciting, facilitating, or inducing another to bet on an Applicable Competition, whether or not the wager is ultimately accepted or settled. 

 

4. Prohibitions and Requirements

Covered Individuals are expressly prohibited from engaging in the prohibited conduct set forth in this policy, the USOPC Sport Integrity Policy, the IOC Olympic Movement Code on the Prevention of the Manipulation of Competitions, and the IPC Code of Ethics (each as applicable).

     A. Prohibition on Betting

Covered Individuals may not engage in any form of Sports Betting or Sports Wagering on Applicable Competitions. This includes betting, wagering, gambling, or staking money or any other thing of value, whether monetary or non-monetary, on the outcome, progress, conduct, or any other competitive aspect of an Applicable Competition.

Covered Individuals may not place, arrange, facilitate, or participate in any such bet or wager directly or indirectly, including through licensed or unlicensed sportsbooks, fantasy sports leagues, futures or prediction contracts, intermediaries, third parties, cash, credit, digital assets, or any other means of payment. This prohibition includes bets placed on behalf of oneself or another person, and multi-sport bets, including parlays, that include an Applicable Competition.

Covered Individuals may not accept or receive, directly or indirectly, money, gifts, benefits, favors, or any other thing of value in connection with Sports Betting or Sports Wagering on an Applicable Competition.

     B. Prohibition on Manipulation

Covered Individuals may not influence, manipulate, or attempt to influence or manipulate any competitive aspect of an Applicable Competition in a way such that the outcome or any other aspect of the competition is determined (in whole or in part) by something other than the competitors’ merits. Examples include, but are not limited to: the result, score, margin, or placing; individual or team performance; statistics, or conduct; specific actions or incidents occurring during a competition (including prop/spot bets); and decisions made by officials. 

     C. Prohibition on Misuse or Disclosure of Inside Information

Covered Individuals may not request, use, or disclose, directly or indirectly, any Inside Information to or for the benefit of any individual who does not have a legitimate need to know such information. Examples of Inside Information include, but are not limited to, non-public injury or health information, team selection decisions before public announcement, competitive strategy or tactics, and training or coaching details. 

     D. Prohibition on Indirect Violations 

Covered Individuals may not direct, request, encourage, assist, or use any third party to engage in conduct that would violate this policy if engaged in directly by the Covered Individual. Covered Individuals are also prohibited from soliciting, facilitating, or encouraging any other Covered Individual to engage in conduct prohibited by this policy. 

     E. Duty to Report and Cooperate

All Covered Individuals have a continuing obligation to promptly report to USA Cycling and/or the USOPC any conduct, incident, approach, invitation, or information the individual knows, suspects, or reasonably should suspect, may constitute a violation of this Sport Integrity Policy or any related integrity rules (e.g., UCI Code of Ethics, the IOC/IPC Code of Ethics). Failure to report such violations may be considered a violation of this policy and may result in disciplinary action or related sanctions. 

All Covered Individuals have a duty to cooperate with USA Cycling and/or the USOPC in investigating violations of the NGB’s policy and the USOPC Sport Integrity Policy.  Cooperation may include sitting for interviews within a reasonable amount of time and providing documentation.  Note that the failure to cooperate with any investigation may be considered a violation of this policy and subject the individual to sanctions. 

     F. Permitted Conduct

Covered Individuals may engage in the following conduct under this policy:

1. Covered Individuals may engage in legal betting, wagering, or gambling related to competitions that do not fall within the definition of an Applicable Competition. For example, a USA Cycling team member may place a legal bet on an NFL game, but may not place a bet on any cycling events included in any Olympic or Paralympic Games.

2. Covered Individuals may enter into commercial sponsorship agreements with sports betting operators, provided: (i) such operators are legal, regulated, and duly licensed; and (ii) any athlete who is a Covered Individual does not specifically promote betting on Applicable Competitions. Athletes should also be aware of IOC Rule 40 and the IPC's marketing guidelines, which describe how athletes' personal sponsors may use an athlete's name, image, and likeness before, during, and after the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
    

5. Procedures for Reporting, Reviewing, and Managing Reported Integrity Concerns

Integrity concerns must be timely reported to the Legal Department. The Legal Department, or its designee, will conduct or coordinate the initial review of reported integrity concerns. If USA Cycling determines that a Covered Individual may have violated this policy, the matter will be reviewed and resolved under USA Cycling’s Grievance Policy where applicable, and otherwise under any applicable employment, contract, committee, credentialing, appointment, or other governing process.

Any determination under this policy that would suspend or limit an individual’s opportunity to participate in amateur athletic competition or USA Cycling activities shall be subject to a hearing before a panel of disinterested and impartial individuals that includes athlete representation, as provided in the Grievance Policy.

Anyone reporting a perceived violation of this policy must act in good faith and have some reasonable basis for believing there may be a violation. A report does not violate this policy merely because it is mistaken, unsubstantiated, or not ultimately proven. However, anyone who knowingly makes a false report, or who makes a report with reckless disregard for its truth or falsity, violates this policy and the USA Cycling Code of Conduct. Such conduct may itself be reported under this policy and may lead to disciplinary action or other consequences.

USA Cycling has a zero tolerance for retaliation against individuals who make good faith reports of potential ethical, policy, or legal violations, and who cooperate with investigations of the report. Consult the USA Cycling Whistleblower & Anti-Retaliation Policy for more details. 

Individuals may also report integrity concerns to the USOPC Integrity Portal and/or the IOC/IPC Integrity Hotlines. Upon receipt of any reported integrity concern involving Protected Competitions, USA Cycling’s Legal Department, or its designee, acting as USA Cycling’s designated sport integrity compliance contact, will immediately notify the USOPC Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer of the potential violation(s). USA Cycling is committed to assisting the IOC/IPC, the UCI, and the USOPC in ensuring integrity in sport. Where the IOC/IPC, the UCI, or the USOPC assert jurisdiction over an integrity review or investigation, USA Cycling and all USA Cycling Covered Individuals will fully cooperate with the review. USA Cycling will recognize and enforce integrity-related sanctions issued by the IOC/IPC, the UCI, and/or the USOPC.

 

6. Education and Training

The sports integrity landscape is ever-evolving. To assist in promoting a culture of integrity, transparency, accountability, and respect for fair competition, USA Cycling will provide Covered Individuals on an annual basis materials designed to support education and awareness of key sport integrity issues, including, but not limited to: competition manipulation, sports betting, misuse of insider information, reporting obligations, and ethical decision-making. Education materials may include practical scenarios, sport-specific examples, social media risks, protection of Inside Information, reporting procedures, and potential consequences for violations. By building knowledge and practical understanding, the materials aim to equip athletes, coaches, officials, administrators, and support personnel with the tools to recognize integrity risks and to appropriately respond. 

 

7. USA Cycling Resources

USA Cycling's Legal Department is responsible for this policy and its enforcement. USA Cycling's Legal Department can be contacted with any questions about this policy. Contact: legal@usacycling.org.

 

8. Additional Resources

Individuals who wish to report concerns related to this policy as it relates to involvement in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, or are uncomfortable reporting a concern directly to USA Cycling, may also submit a report using the USOPC Integrity Portal. The Integrity Portal allows individuals to submit concerns to the USOPC confidentially and/or anonymously. Reports may be made online or by telephone.

Website: usopc.ethicspoint.com

Hotline: 877-404-9935

Individuals may also report any suspected or known manipulation of an Olympic or Paralympic competition to the relevant authority, including the IOC Integrity Hotline integrity@olympic.org or IPC Whistleblower Channel (as appropriate). 

Team USA athletes may contact the Athlete Ombuds for independent and confidential advice on a variety of sport-related matters, including their rights, applicable rules, policies or processes, and questions related to resolving disputes and grievances. The Athlete Ombuds can also help Team USA athletes connect with legal counsel or mental health resources if needed. All other NGB athletes (i.e., athletes competing domestically at the masters or youth level, recreational athletes, foreign athletes), are welcome to visit the Athlete Ombuds website to review informational resources and should work directly with their NGB to understand additional resources and options available to them. 

Email: ombudsman@usathlete.org 

Website: www.usathlete.org

 

Policy History

Policy Approver	Approved Date	Publication Date	Revision Summary
Board of Directors	June 26, 2026	July 1, 2026	Initial Publication