Inclusion Daily Express -- Olympic Committee Settles Discrimination Suit With Paralympic Champ

Inclusion Daily Express Logo

International Disability Rights News Service
Click here for today's headlines & home page

Keeping advocates informed, inspired and connected since 1999.
Click here for daily or weekly delivery . . . OR
Try Inclusion Daily Express for ten days FREE . . .

Olympic Committee Settles Discrimination Suit With Paralympic Champ
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
January 9, 2008

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO--The U.S. Olympic Committee has settled a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by Paralympic basketball champion Mark E. Shepherd, Sr., who managed the committee's Disabled Sports Service from 1994 to 2001.

Shepherd filed the lawsuit in November 1999, claiming that the USOC violated the federal Americans With Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act and the Civil Rights Act.

In his 23-count complaint, Shepherd accused the committee of providing Paralympic athletes with separate and significantly inferior services, programs, benefits, insurance, medical care and training compared to Olympic athletes.

Shepherd also claimed that committee officials retaliated against him when he brought the problems to their attention.

The terms of the December 4 settlement, which were announced Tuesday, are confidential.

Shepherd was a member of the 1996 bronze medal USA Paralympic Men's Wheelchair Basketball Team and a three-time World Champion with the USA men's team.

"I am very pleased to represent the U.S. as a Deputy Assistant Chef de Mission at the Beijing Paralympic Games and look forward to supporting the U.S. Paralympic Team," Shepherd said in a USOC press statement.

"The USOC is pleased we've been able to bring closure to these issues so we can continue to focus our attention on moving forward with all of our Paralympic programs and particularly preparing the best team possible for the Beijing Paralympic Games," said USOC Chief Executive Officer Jim Scherr.

Related:
USOC settles anti-discrimination lawsuit
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2008-01-08-usoc-lawsuit_N.htm
"USOC, IOC Sued by Senior USOC Disabled Official" November 4, 1999 (Business Wire)
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1999_Nov_4/ai_57234622

Copyright © 2008 Inonit Publishing
Please do not reprint, forward, or post without permission.

Click here for top of this page

Purchase this story for your website or newsletter . . .

Here's what subscribers say about Inclusion Daily Express. . .

Keeping advocates informed, inspired and connected since 1999.
Click here for daily or weekly delivery . . . OR
Try Inclusion Daily Express for ten days FREE . . .

Get your news here!