Nine Olympians Speak Out Against USOPC’s Partnership with MilkLife, Calling it Harmful to their Wellbeing

Olympian Dotsie Bausch is taking the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) to task for its partnership with MilkLife.

In an open letter to the committee, Bausch and eight other Olympians argue the USOPC’s partnership violates its own bylaws, which promise to “promote and protect athletes’ […] wellness” and to “champion the integrity of the sport.” The scientific evidence is clear, they say: consuming dairy impedes athletic performance and has serious health effects. By promoting dairy, the USOPC is failing to protect the wellbeing of Team USA athletes.

The letter ran as a paid advertisement in three newspapers on Thursday. The Olympians targeted papers with circulations in cities where the USOPC has facilities.

Bausch is an Olympic U.S. silver medalist in track cycling. The following athletes included their names in the letter, signed by Bausch:

• Alex Morgan, Soccer, Captain Team USA, Olympic Gold Medalist 2012, 2x World Cup Champion
• Heather Mitts Feeley, Soccer, 3 x Olympic Gold, 2004, 2008, 2012
• Jennie Reed, Track Cycling, 2004, 2008, 2012 Olympic Games, Silver 2012
• Dustin Watten, Volleyball, Team USA, World Cup Champion
• Michelle Akers, Soccer, Olympic Gold Medalist 1996, World Cup Champion, one of the top female soccer players of all time
• Tamara Jenkins Cheek, Canoe/Kayak, 2000, former President of Southern California CA Olympians and Paralympians
• Rebecca Soni, Swimming, 2008, 2012 Olympic Games, 3 Gold & 3 Silver
• Leslie Osborne, Soccer, Team USA, FIFA World Cup player

Impacting Health and Performance

Source: Switch4Good/YouTube

The nine athletes provided the USOPC with a wealth of data backing up their claims about the harmfulness of cow’s milk, which they say the committee ignored. Speaking to One Green Planet, Bausch pointed out that dairy is a major source of trans and saturated fats in many people’s diets. She also cited studies linking the consumption of cow’s milk to higher rates of hormonal-based cancers. According to a press release issued in connection with the letter, dairy hampers athletic performance by increasing mucus production, limiting lung function, and promoting inflammation. Bausch says that consuming dairy can worsen asthma symptoms and that asthma is the most common chronic illness among Olympians.

Food Justice and Racial Justice

The athletes argue the USOPC’s promotion of dairy is particularly concerning given how harmful it is to people of color. According to the open letter, “up to 95% of Blacks, American Indians, Asians, and Hispanics/Latinx are disproportionately affected by lactose intolerance…” 36% of Americans overall have lactose malabsorption, according to the National Institutes of Health. The Olympians suggest that the USOPC’s promotion of dairy is therefore discriminatory.

The open letter comes after the nine Olympians appealed to the USOPC to investigate their charges in October. Bausch says they promised her a thorough inquiry; however, officials responded within a matter of days saying the athletes’ claims about the effects of consuming cows’ milk were “opinion.” Bausch notes that their quick response shows they didn’t conduct the detailed investigation they’d promised.

With the open letter, Bausch and the other Olympians hope to spur the USOPC to action. The USOPC has a history of unethical partnerships: chewing tobacco was a sponsor of the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. The Olympians hope the USOPC will use this opportunity to make better sponsorship choices, ones that reflect its commitment to serving the best interests of athletes.

You can stand with these Olympians by sending an email to members of the USOPC here.

Dairy has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, prostate cancer and has many side effects. Read more about some Common Health Concerns That May Disappear Once You Ditch Dairy and 10 Calcium Supplements For Healthy Living on a Dairy-Free and 10 Carrageenan-Free Non-Dairy Products! Not to mention, plant-based diets are known to help chronic inflammation, heart health, mental wellbeing, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more!

Interested in joining the dairy-free and meatless train? For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
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