USOC, IOC Sued by Senior USOC Disabled Official; Multiple Violations of Disabilities, Rehabilitation and Civil Rights Laws Cited

Business Wire, Nov 4, 1999

DENVER--(BW SportsWire)--Nov. 4, 1999--

Discrimination Against Medalist, USOC/IOC Disability Programs

at Core of Federal Case

A federal discrimination suit citing multiple violations of law regarding discrimination and employment practices relating to a senior disabled United States Olympic Committee (USOC) official who manages USOC programs for athletes with disabilities was filed in U.S. District Court in Denver against the USOC and International Olympic Committee (IOC), attorneys for the plaintiff announced Thursday.

The 23-count complaint was filed on behalf of Mark E. Shepherd Sr., a two-time world champion and Paralympic medalist in basketball and manager of the USOC's Disabled Sports Services, the highest-ranking USOC official representing athletes with disabilities and athletic programs in the country.

Shepherd alleges the USOC practiced discrimination against athletes with disabilities by providing separate and dramatically inferior services, programs, benefits, insurance, medical care and training than for able-bodied athletes in violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act, Rehabilitation Act and Civil Rights Act, among other laws.

The IOC is also a defendant in the case because it supervises the USOC and all Olympic sports.

"The U.S. Olympic Committee perpetuates the lofty image that it promotes equality and equal opportunity for all amateur athletes in competitive sports, whether able-bodied or disabled. This is far from the truth," said Shepherd. "My intent is to see these practices reversed, hopefully with the support of the public and corporate sponsors who help fund these programs."

The suit also cites numerous claims against the USOC in its treatment of and retaliatory tactics against Shepherd for calling into question the organization's deficiencies in regard to supporting sports activities for athletes with disabilities. The USOC, as a recipient of state/federal grants, is prohibited from discriminating against the disabled.

As Shepherd's responsibilities increased over the course of his employment at the USOC, which began in 1994, including being named Secretary of the National Paralympic Committee, he was denied commensurate increases in budget, staff, advancement or compensation to fulfill his job responsibilities, the suit alleges.

Shepherd, the only wheelchair-bound employee at the USOC, said his colleagues were invited to senior staff meetings and evaluated for promotions while his role was ignored or devalued. Among other practices, USOC management held senior staff meetings in their offices that are not wheelchair accessible.

Activities for athletes with disabilities are administered by seven Disabled Sports Organizations that are members of the USOC. Their programs, collectively, receive less than 2 percent of USOC annual budgeted funds.

The lawsuit seeks, among many things, a finding that Shepherd has suffered from the USOC's acts of discrimination and that a third-party investigation be conducted into disparity of USOC-controlled programs for the disabled.

Shepherd sustained a traumatic spinal cord injury in 1986 while serving as a police officer in California. A Vietnam-era veteran and member of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Shepherd has spoken extensively on disability issues in the United States and internationally, including testimony before the U.S. Senate on disabled sports and the Amateur Sports Act.

He served more than six years of military service, three of which were part of the Presidential Honor Guard (3rd Infantry, Ft. Myer, Va.) Currently, he resides in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Shepherd is being represented by attorney Countess Pease Jeffries of Jeffries Advocates Law Offices, a division of The Consortium International Law Firms based in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Note to Editors: Photographs of Shepherd are available by calling Stoorza, Ziegaus & Metzger Inc. at 213/891-2822.