GENEVA (AP) — A coalition of athletes, their global trade union, and human rights activists are calling on the IOC not to adopt a proposed athlete charter.
The World Players Association says the IOC declaration of athlete rights and responsibilities being approved next week at an Olympic meeting in Argentina "will curtail fundamental athlete rights rather than protect them."
The union, representing 85,000 athletes in more than 60 countries, says athlete groups in the United States, Britain, Canada and Germany also urge the International Olympic Committee to shelve the proposal.
Brendan Schwab, the World Players executive director, says the IOC document "relegates athlete rights beneath governing bodies," and "fails to give the victims of human rights abuse access to an effective remedy."
The union is backed by the Sports and Rights Alliance, which includes Amnesty, Human Rights Watch and Transparency International.
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