Olympic anti-doping investigator McLaren to give keynote at National Sports Law Institute conference

September 27, 2017

MILWAUKEE — Richard McLaren, an international sports lawyer, arbitrator and law professor who headed an investigation into allegations of doping related to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, will give the keynote presentation at the National Sports Law Institute's 2017 fall conference. The conference, titled "Maintaining the Integrity and Commercial Value of Sports While Protecting Athletes' Rights," will take place on Friday, Oct. 13, beginning at 9 a.m. in the Lubar Center in Eckstein Hall.

The conference will provide an overview on how the integrity of sport is protected in the United States. Panel discussions will examine legal and ethical issues related to sports gambling, governing bodies' legal and ethical duties to protect player safety, intersex and transgender issues in sports and athletes' rights on issues such as activism, due process protections and privacy interests.

McLaren's keynote presentation will focus on the Sochi doping scandal. The World Anti-Doping Agency appointed McLaren as the independent head of an investigation into allegations of doping related to the 2014 Winter Olympics. McLaren also will be presented with the Institute's "Master of the Game" award.

Other speakers participating in the conference include:

  • Scott Bearby, General Counsel, NCAA
  • Mary K. Braza, Partner, Co-Chair, Sports Industry Team, Foley & Lardner LLP
  • Hayes Grooms, VP of Athlete Engagement and Sports Outreach, Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE)
  • Jill Pilgrim, Pilgrim & Associates Law Office, Founder & President, The Center for the Protection of Athletes' Rights, Inc.

Additional information on the conference, including a full list of panelists and registration details, is available online. Media interested in scheduling an interview with a conference panelist or one of Marquette Law School's sports law professors can contact Chris Jenkins in the Office of Marketing and Communication at christopher.t.jenkins@marquette.edu or (414) 288-4745.

About the National Sports Law Institute

Founded in 1989, the National Sports Law Institute of Marquette University Law School is the first institute of its kind associated with an American law school and remains the leader in its field.

The Institute sponsors local and national events, including conferences and symposia for individuals in the sports industry, and disseminates information on the sports industry and sports law through several publications, including the Marquette Sports Law Review.

As a part of Marquette University, a Catholic, Jesuit university, the Institute is committed to searching for truth, discovering and sharing information, fostering professional excellence, developing leaders and serving those in the sports industry.